Healthy Living MELANIE NEWTON. A Study of Colossians & Philemon. Dwelling in truth you can know leads to healthy living!

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1 Healthy Living A Study of Colossians & Philemon Dwelling in truth you can know leads to healthy living! MELANIE NEWTON

2 We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many women who served as contributors to this study guide, especially our dear sister Joan Floyd who is now in heaven with Jesus. Without such wonderful help, we would never have accomplished this monumental task in a timely manner. Thanks also to all those who served as editors for the lessons. Your work is much appreciated Melanie Newton All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For questions about the use of this study guide, please visit to contact us. Cover design and study layout by Melanie Newton. Cover graphic adapted from kaizenvalentines-day.jpg graphic, a public domain online image. Published by Joyful Walk Ministries. Scripture quotations indicated NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations indicated NET are quoted by permission from the NET Bible copyright by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved. This material is available in its entirety as a free download or online web use at Melanie Newton is a Lifestyle Disciplemaking speaker, author, and trainer with Joyful Walk Ministries. She is the author of Graceful Beginnings books for anyone new to the Bible and Joyful Walk Bible Studies for growing Christians. Melanie can be contacted at melanienewton.com. We pray that you and your group will find Healthy Living a resource that God will use to strengthen you in your faith walk with Him. Flower Mound, TX

3 MELANIE NEWTON Melanie Newton is a Louisiana girl who made the choice to follow Jesus while attending LSU. She and her husband Ron married and moved to Texas for him to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. They stayed in Texas where Ron led a wilderness camping ministry for troubled youth for many years. Ron now helps corporations with their challenging employees and is the author of the top-rated business book, No Jerks on the Job. Melanie jumped into raising three Texas-born children and serving in ministry to women at her church. Through the years, the Lord has given her opportunity to do Bible teaching and to write gracebased Bible studies for women that are now available from her website (melanienewton.com) and on Bible.org. Graceful Beginnings books are for anyone new to the Bible. Joyful Walk Bible Studies are for maturing Christians. Melanie Newton loves to help women learn how to study the Bible for themselves. She also teaches online courses for women to grow their Bible-teaching skills to help others all with the goal of getting to know Jesus more along the way. Her heart s desire is to encourage you to have a joyful relationship with Jesus Christ so you are willing to share that experience with others around you. Jesus took hold of me in 1972, and I ve been on this great adventure ever since. My life is a gift of God, full of blessings in the midst of difficult challenges. The more I ve learned and experienced God s absolutely amazing grace, the more I ve discovered my faith walk to be a joyful one. I m still seeking that joyful walk every day Melanie

4 OTHER BIBLE STUDIES BY MELANIE NEWTON Graceful Beginnings Series books for new-to-the-bible Christians: A Fresh Start Painting the Portrait of Jesus The God You Can Know Grace Overflowing The Walk from Fear to Faith Satisfied by His Love Joyful Walk Bible Studies for growing Christians: Graceful Living: The Essentials of Living a Grace-Based Christian Life 7 Cs of a Firm Foundation: A Study Based on Genesis 1-11 Everyday Women, Ever Faithful God: Old Testament Women Profiles of Perseverance: Old Testament Men Live Out His Love: New Testament Women Radical Acts: Adventure with the Spirit from the Book of Acts Knowing Jesus, Knowing Joy: A Study of Philippians Healthy Living: A Study of Colossians Adorn Yourself with Godliness: A Study of 1 Timothy and Titus Perspective: A Study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians To Be Found Faithful: A Study of 2 Timothy Online Courses Bible Study Leadership Made Easy: Learn to lead with confidence & grace Find these and more resources for your spiritual growth at melanienewton.com.

5 Contents INTRODUCTION Using This Study Guide... 1 Truth the Prescription for Healthy Living... 3 The ABCs of Colossians... 5 Paul s Letter to the Colossians... 7 Paul s Letter to Philemon LESSONS 1: The Gospel Received : A Life Worthy : Jesus Is Lord over All! TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST PREVENTS INFECTION : Christ in You : Made Alive with Christ WHAT TAKES WOMEN "CAPTIVE?" : Unhealthy Living : Living Above : Evidence of a Thankful Heart : Evidence of a Word-Filled Life : Making a Difference : Forgiveness and Reconciliation Sources

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7 INTRODUCTION Using This Study Guide This study guide consists of 11 lessons covering Paul s letters to the Colossians and Philemon. Most of the lessons are short. However, if you cannot do the entire lesson one week, please read the Bible passage(s) covered by the lesson and try to do the first page of the lesson. THE BASIC STUDY Each lesson includes core questions covering the passage narrative. These core questions will take you through the process of inductive Bible study observation, interpretation, and application. The process is more easily understood in the context of answering these questions: What does the passage say? (Observation: what s actually there) What does it mean? (Interpretation: the author s intended meaning) How does this apply to me today? (Application: making it personal) Questions identified as Staying Healthy lead you to introspection and application of a specific truth to your life. STUDY ENHANCEMENTS Deeper Discoveries (optional): Embedded within the sections are optional questions for further research of subjects we don't have time to cover adequately in the lessons or contain information that may enhance the basic study. If you are meeting with a small group, your leader may give you the opportunity to share your "discoveries. Study Aids: To aid in proper interpretation and application of the study, additional study aids are located where appropriate in the lesson: Historical Insights Scriptural Insights From the Greek (definitions of Greek words) Focus on the Meaning Think About It (thoughtful reflection) NEW TESTAMENT SUMMARY The New Testament opens with the births of Jesus and John (known as the baptist ). About 30 years later, John challenged the Jews to indicate their repentance (turning from sin and toward God) by submitting to water baptism a familiar Old Testament practice used for repentance as well as when a Gentile converted to Judaism (to be washed clean of idolatry). Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, publicly showed the world what God is like and taught His perfect ways for 3 3½ years. After preparing 12 disciples to continue Christ's earthly work, He died voluntarily on a cross for mankind's sin, rose from the dead, and returned to heaven. The account of His earthly life is recorded in 4 books known as the Gospels (the biblical books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John named after the compiler of each account). After Jesus return to heaven, the followers of Christ were then empowered by the Holy Spirit and spread God's salvation message among the Jews, a number of whom believed in Christ. The 1

8 HEALTHY LIVING apostle Paul and others traveling with him carried the good news to the Gentiles during 3 missionary journeys (much of this recorded in the book of Acts). Paul wrote 13 New Testament letters to churches & individuals (Romans through Philemon). The section in our Bible from Hebrews to Jude contains 8 additional letters penned by five men, including two apostles (Peter and John) and two of Jesus half-brothers (James and Jude). The author of Hebrews is unknown. The apostle John also recorded Revelation, which summarizes God's final program for the world. The Bible ends as it began with a new, sinless creation. DISCUSSION GROUP GUIDELINES 1. Attend consistently whether your lesson is done or not. You ll learn from the other women, and they want to get to know you. 2. Set aside time to work through the study questions. The goal of Bible study is to get to know Jesus. He will change your life. 3. Share your insights from your personal study time. As you spend time in the Bible, Jesus will teach you truth through His Spirit inside you. 4. Respect each other s insights. Listen thoughtfully. Encourage each other as you interact. Refrain from dominating the discussion if you have a tendency to be talkative. J 5. Celebrate our unity in Christ. Avoid bringing up controversial subjects such as politics, divisive issues, and denominational differences. 6. Maintain confidentiality. Remember that anything shared during the group time is not to leave the group (unless permission is granted by the one sharing). 7. Pray for one another as sisters in Christ. 8. Get to know the women in your group. Please do not use your small group members for solicitation purposes for home businesses, though. Enjoy your Joyful Walk Bible Study! 2

9 INTRODUCTION Truth the Prescription for Healthy Living Heresy (an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious TRUTH) is an infection in the Body of Christ. It s not just error; it is anti-truth! And like an infection in the human body, it always affects life so it must be addressed. Thankfully, the answer to all heresy is TRUTH! Knowing truth gives us a spiritual immune system that fights and prevents infection. That is the prescription for healthy living. Here s how we will see it work throughout this study of Colossians and Philemon: Dwell in Truth You Can Know To dwell means to make your home in. It s what dominates your thoughts and attitudes, governs your life, has the most influence on you. God gives us plenty of truth in the Scriptures that we can know and trust. There are 66 books of revelation given chapters. If we just took 1 chapter per day and wrote down all the truths about God and our relationship with Him that is revealed to us, it would take us more than 3 years to get through the whole Bible! God wants us to know the truth He has revealed. He wants us to make our home to dwell in that truth. It is for our own good! Paul writes in Ephesians 1:17-19, I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing KNOWLEDGE of Him, since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened so that you may KNOW what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of His power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of His immense strength. Look at all that God says we can KNOW. Each passage we read or study has plenty of truth that we can KNOW with certainty and allow to govern our lives. At the end of each lesson, you ll get to list all the TRUTH from that lesson that you can KNOW about God and His relationship to you. Throughout this study, you will DWELL in truth you can know. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand In the midst of all those 1189 chapters in the Bible are verses we just don t understand. Perhaps you don t understand it now but will in the future as you learn more through Bible study and hear great teaching that helps you understand. But, there are things we will never know or understand. Deuteronomy 29:29 says this, The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Notice the emphasis on the things revealed we can KNOW them. But, there are secret things the Lord has not revealed yet. As we study the Bible, we can do our best to try to understand what is written examining the original words to see what the writer meant and what the audience understood, looking at cross-references to let the Bible interpret itself, and ask the Spirit for understanding. But, you may never understand something that you read. Don t let that unnerve you. J In this study, after you list all the TRUTH from each lesson that you can KNOW, you ll get to write the things that you just can t seem to understand from the lesson or things you might not know. Then, you can make the choice to HUMBLY ACCEPT the I don t know or understand. 3

10 HEALTHY LIVING Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word To dwell in the truth of God s Word, we must discern what we read and hear by comparing it with the complete revelation of God s Word (the whole Bible). We can t extract pieces of it (that is, a verse or group of verses) and build our foundation on that. Nor should we build our faith on experiences and feelings. There s junk out there about God so it s important to really get to know the God of the Bible. Avoid the look-imagine-see way of looking at any verse, which leads to error. What do I mean by look-imagine-see? Someone looks at a verse or passage, imagines what they want it to say, and then sees in their mind what they have imagined through twisting word meanings and interpretations. Cultural influence on Bible study feeds this look-imagine-see process. You look at the passage, imagine a way for it to fit a particular cultural slant, then you see what you want to see. Many types of false teaching through the years have started with this kind of look-imagine-see process. Avoid doing that by following the inductive process of Bible Study: observation (what the text says), interpretation (what was the author s intended meaning to him and to his audience that would read or hear it), and application (how to live this out in your life). That is the best way to study the Bible. Look at what s there. Learn what it means and teaches you. Then, live it out in your life. You want to make sure you are basing your faith on what is in God s Word, not something you have heard before and not something you are imagining to be there. So, avoid that look-imagine-see way of looking at the Bible. We will never know all there is to know about God. There ll always be some mystery about Him. But, there s plenty enough revealed in the Bible that we CAN KNOW HIM TRUTHFULLY and know how to live our life in Christ truthfully. The Holy Spirit uses the Scripture we read and study to teach us about our God so we can know TRUTH and DWELL in that truth. Dangerous teaching comes from picking and choosing what you consider to be truth. All false teachers through the centuries have taken advantage of people who were not dwelling in the truth portrayed in the whole Bible. At the end of each lesson, I will ask you to evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. I may even throw one into the lesson for you to evaluate and discern truth or error. DISCERN TEACHING through the complete revelation of God s Word. The prescription for healthy living has three parts: 1. DWELL IN TRUTH You Can Know 2. HUMBLY ACCEPT the I Don t Know or Understand 3. DISCERN Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word Enjoy healthy living! 4

11 INTRODUCTION AUTHOR The ABCs of Colossians Paul identifies himself as the author of this letter written to the church at Colosse. Paul, whose Hebrew name was Saul, was born in Tarsus, a major Roman city on the coast of southeast Asia Minor. Tarsus was the center for the tent making industry; Paul was trained in that craft as his occupation (his primary paying profession). As a Jewish Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5), Paul was trained at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), a well-respected rabbi of the day. Saul was an ardent persecutor of the early church (Philippians 3:6, Acts 8:3, 22:4-5, 26:9-11) until his life changing conversion to Christianity (Acts 9:1-31, Galatians 1:11-24). After believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior, Paul was called by God to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). This was an amazing about-face for a committed Pharisee like Paul who ordinarily would have nothing to do with Gentiles (Acts 10:28). Paul wrote 13 letters that are included in the New Testament. Tradition has it that Paul was beheaded shortly after he wrote 2 nd Timothy in 67 AD. BACKGROUND The country village of Colosse lay in the beautiful Lycus Valley about 100 miles east of Ephesus. It was 1 of 3 ancient towns situated close to each other Colosse, Hierapolis, and Laodicea along a major trade route between the big city of Ephesus to the west and the Euphrates River to the east. What each city did affected the others. The population of Colosse was mostly Gentile of Greek descent. A large Jewish group lived there, having been relocated from Mesopotamia by Antiochus in the second century BC, bringing with them eastern influence. Because of being near a major trade route, the town was influenced by ideas and practices from both the east (Mesopotamia) and the west (Rome). So, the mindset was mainly Greek with influx of new ideas from the East and other parts of the Roman Empire. Over time, the road system changed, and Colosse lost its importance. Laodicea became the greater city. In the 7th-8th centuries, the people moved to a fortress south of the city and in the 12th century, the Turks destroyed Colosse. Today, Colosse is composed of uninhabited ruins. Motorist guides to Turkey point out Laodicea's ruins but do not even mention Colosse. Archeologists have unearthed ruins of the ancient church of Laodicea. On his third missionary journey, Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus (~54-57 A.D), a large city of 250,000 people. While there, Paul held classes every day for anyone wanting to learn about Jesus Christ, having their sins forgiven, and gaining a new way to live. The gospel spread throughout that part of Asia Minor. One of Paul s students named Epaphras traveled 100 miles east back to his hometown of Colosse to bring the gospel to the people living there. A few Jews believed the message about Jesus, but it was mostly the Greeks and Romans who listened and trusted in Jesus to take away their sins. They started worshiping God together as a 5

12 HEALTHY LIVING church. Epaphras also started churches in Hierapolis and Laodicea. The churches grew larger. And, false teaching began to infiltrate them. While Paul was imprisoned in Rome for 2 years, Epaphras headed to Rome to discuss with Paul what was happening back home. The church was now about 5 years old. Paul had never met the Colossians, but he loved these young Christians very much. So, he wrote a general letter to pass around to the whole region (the letter to the Ephesians) as well as a letter specifically to the 3 churches in the Colossian area. He wrote a third letter, a personal one, to a rich landowner named Philemon about his runaway slave Onesimus. These three letters plus the one to the Philippians are called the Prison Epistles since Paul wrote them while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul s coworker Tychicus delivered the letters to Ephesus and Colosse. Onesimus delivered the personal letter to his master, Philemon. CONTEXT The heresy (an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious TRUTH) that Paul discovered in Colosse was like an infection in the Body of Christ there. It afflicted the believers regarding their view of the identity and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. False teachers taught that Jesus was not the Lord, just a lord. They were teaching them that faith in Jesus was not enough for them to be spiritual. They needed to add other experiences to the mix. This is the root error of false teaching today. The place that Christ holds in any religious teaching determines whether it is true or false healthy food or heresy. The Colossians were infected with heresy. Paul wrote the letter of Colossians to contradict this infection. In Colossians, we find the greatest declaration of Christ s deity and sufficiency found in Scripture. What Paul wrote then seems written expressly for our own day when so many teachers and groups are trying to rob Jesus Christ of His deity and sufficiency for our salvation through grace alone and our acceptance to God apart from works. It s always time to check for infection in our thinking. You may discover that you have a concept about Jesus Christ, salvation, or the Christian life that is based on man-made tradition or philosophy instead of on Scripture. For healthy living, you will need to recognize that infection and give it up to accept the truth about Christ presented in God's Word. That is the prescription for healthy living. The prescription has three parts: 1. DWELL IN TRUTH You Can Know 2. HUMBLY ACCEPT the I Don t Know or Understand 3. DISCERN Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word It is good for us to read the Colossian letter, examine our own belief and see that we always put Jesus Christ in His rightful place in our thinking and glorify this wonderful One. I love this truthful phrase regarding Jesus Christ and our salvation through Him that was so aptly worded by a dear Bible teacher (Vickie Kraft) in the 1980 s: Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! We are going to hang onto that truth! 6

13 THE LETTERS Paul s Letter to the Colossians New International Version (2011) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God s people the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. 7

14 HEALTHY LIVING I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 8

15 THE LETTERS Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. 9

16 HEALTHY LIVING Paul s Letter to Philemon New International Version (2011) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all His holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord s people. Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him who is my very heart back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 10

17 LESSON ONE 1: The Gospel Received Colossians 1:1-8 When you check your mailbox or your messages, what do you open first? Bills? Official looking stuff? Personal notes? Well, you'll want to open this one! This lesson will take a little longer than most because we ask you to read through the entire letter of Colossians twice! Reading through the whole letter (only 4 chapters long in our Bible form) is the best way to see the entire message and get the big picture before we divide it into smaller pieces to enjoy it more slowly. For your convenience, the letter to the Colossians is provided for you in the pages before this lesson. DAY ONE STUDY 1. Read the letter to the Colossians as it was intended a letter from one dear friend to another. Read it at one sitting, considering the following two questions. Ready? Go! What strikes you as one overall emphasis of Paul's letter? What other issues does he address that particularly interest you? 2. Read the letter a second time. As you read the letter this time, do the following: Mark the phrases that refer to being "in Christ" (also in Him, by Him, through Him, with Him, in the Lord). Mark fullness, complete, mystery, knowledge, wisdom and all (plus any variations on these words). 3. Regarding being in Christ, about how many times does Paul emphasize this relationship? 4. Paul, the master communicator, often uses the enemy's very own words to refute bad teaching fullness, mystery, knowledge, complete, all. How many times does he use these terms? 11

18 HEALTHY LIVING 5. Now, compared to your reading the first time, what do you think is the overall emphasis of Paul's letter to the Colossians? 6. Based upon what Paul is emphasizing, what might be the errors being taught the Colossians? DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 1: As you read any of Paul s letters, be sure to pay attention to the introductions. What important information does Paul include in the first two verses of his letter to the Colossians? From the Greek: Whereas older translations used the all-inclusive word brothers in verse 2, the Greek word (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God s family. The NIV translators have chosen brothers and sisters to use here for clarity. You will also see this in Colossians 4: Look at the first 3-4 verses of Paul s other letters (start with Romans then go through Philemon.) In how many of them does He refer to Jesus as Lord Jesus Christ? Note: Lord (Gr. kyrios) means master, sovereign. Does Paul consistently teach the same thing about Jesus to all the churches or just to the Colossians? 9. Looking at vv. 3-8: What did Paul say about their faith, love and hope (vv. 3-5a)? What else about this church made Paul excited and thankful (vv. 5b-8)? 12

19 LESSON ONE Scriptural Insight: The Holy Spirit had created love for Paul in the Colossians. This is the only reference to the Holy Spirit in this epistle. In Colossians Paul ascribed the activities of God that he normally associated with the Holy Spirit to Christ. He probably did this to glorify Jesus Christ before the Colossians who were being taught that Christ was less than He is. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 12) 10. Deeper Discoveries (optional): We tend to gloss over the triad faith, hope, and love because we have heard the words so often. But they are the marks of real spiritual life. Look up these passages and discover how the 3 words (faith, hope and love) are related to one another and are manifested in a believer's life Romans 5:2-5; Galatians 5:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, 5:8; Hebrews 10:22-24 and 1 Peter 1:3-5, 22. Summarize what you learn. 11. Since Paul had not met these people, how do we know the Colossians had received the complete gospel from Epaphras? 12. Using the following verses, what is the gospel? Acts 2:22-24 Acts 16: Corinthians 15:3-4 Summary: 13. What is the significance of Paul stressing that the gospel they received had been bearing fruit everywhere? 13

20 HEALTHY LIVING Think About It: Heresies (such as the one at Colosse) are local and harmful; but truth is universal and helpful. One of the unmistakable characteristics of the true gospel is God s grace in all its truth. Some preach a different gospel which is really no gospel at all (Gal. 1:6-7). This is because it is a gospel of grace plus works, or faith plus works. But the true gospel is one of grace alone (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 670) 14. Staying Healthy: When did you hear the gospel and trust its message? Did what you receive match what Paul and Epaphras preached? DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Heresy (an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious TRUTH) is an infection in the Body of Christ. Heresy is not just error; it's anti-truth! And like an infection in the human body, heresy always affects one s spiritual health (as well as emotional, mental, and sometimes physical health). So, heresy must be addressed. It cannot be ignored. Thankfully, the answer to all heresy is TRUTH! Knowing truth gives us a spiritual immune system that fights and prevents infection. That is the prescription for healthy living. Here s how it works: Dwell in Truth You Can Know To dwell means to make your home in. It s what dominates your thoughts and attitudes, governs your life, has the most influence on you. God gives us plenty of truth in the Scriptures that we can know and trust. There are 66 books of revelation given chapters. If we just took 1 chapter per day and wrote down all the truths about God and our relationship with Him that is revealed to us, it would take us more than 3 years to get through the whole Bible! God wants us to know the truth He has revealed. He wants us to make our home to dwell in that truth. It is for our own good! 15. Read Ephesians 1: List all the truths Paul said we could know about our God. 16. Now, read Colossians 1:1-8. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. 14

21 LESSON ONE Look at all that God says we can KNOW! Each passage we read or study has plenty of truth that we can KNOW with certainty and allow to govern our lives. DWELL in truth you can know. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand In the midst of all 1189 chapters in the Bible are verses we just don t understand. Perhaps you don t understand it now but will in the future as you get more confident in Bible study and hear great teaching that helps you understand. But, there are things we will never know or understand. 17. Read Deuteronomy 29:29. What does it declare? Notice the emphasis on the things revealed we can KNOW them. But, there are secret things the Lord has not revealed yet. As we study the Bible, we can do our best to try to understand what is written examining the original words to see what the writer meant and what the audience understood, looking at cross-references to let the Bible interpret itself, and ask the Spirit for understanding. But, you may never understand something you read. Don t let that unnerve you. 18. Make note of anything in Colossians 1:1-8 that you do not understand at this time. DWELL in truth you can know (the list you made in Question 14). And, HUMBLY ACCEPT the I don t know or understand. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word To dwell in the truth of God s Word, we must discern what we read and hear by comparing it with the complete revelation of God s Word. We can t extract pieces of it and build our foundation on that. Nor should we build our faith on experiences and feelings. There s junk out there about God so it s important to really get to know the God of the Bible. Avoid the look-imagine-see way of looking at any verse, which leads to error. What do I mean by look-imagine-see? Someone looks at a verse or passage, imagines what they want it to say, and then sees in their mind what they have imagined through twisting word meanings and interpretations. Cultural influence on Bible study feeds this look-imagine-see process. You look at the passage, imagine a way for it to fit a particular cultural slant, then you see what you want to see. Many types of false teaching through the years have started with this kind of look-imagine-see process. Avoid doing that by following the inductive process of Bible Study: observation (what the text says), interpretation (what was the author s intended meaning to him and to his audience that would read or hear it), and application (how to live this out in your life). That is the best way to study the Bible. Look at what s there. Learn what it means and teaches you. Then, live it out in your life. 15

22 HEALTHY LIVING You want to make sure you are basing your faith on what is in God s Word, not something you have heard before and not something you are imagining to be there. So, avoid that look-imagine-see way of looking at the Bible. We will never know all there is to know about God. There ll always be some mystery about Him. But, there s plenty enough revealed in the Bible that we can KNOW HIM TRUTHFULLY and know how to live our life in Christ truthfully. The Holy Spirit uses the Scripture we read and study to teach us about our God so we can know TRUTH and DWELL in that truth. 19. Every week, I will ask you to evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. I may even throw one into the lesson for you to evaluate and discern truth or error. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Use specific verses to discern truth from error in any saying or teaching. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 16

23 LESSON TWO 2: A Life Worthy Colossians 1:9-14 DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 1: Now look specifically at verses What is Paul writing about? What jumps out at you in this passage? 2. Focus on verse 9. Using any dictionary (regular or Bible dictionary), define the words "knowledge", "wisdom" and "understanding." Knowledge Wisdom Understanding Summary: What is Paul asking God to do? Focus on the Meaning: Paul used two key words, fill and knowledge. The first suggest a filling out to completeness, and the latter suggests a full, deep understanding. Such knowledge of God s will does not come from a fleshly mind (which puffs up, 1 Cor. 8:1), but from the Holy Spirit who enlightens a believer s inner person (1 Cor. 2:5-6, 13), and from the Word of God. God s will, revealed in the Bible, is made known to believers by the Holy Spirit s teaching ministry. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 670) 17

24 HEALTHY LIVING 3. Paul mentions the knowledge of God's will and includes 4 specific areas included in His will for us as believers. Does God want us to know His will? How can you find out what is God's will, not only for you but also for all believers? Elaborate using Scripture to support your answer. Focus on the Meaning: The "will" (thelematos) of God is what God has revealed in His Word to be correct, regarding both belief (faith) and behavior (works, morality; cf. 4:12; Acts 22:14; Rom. 12:2). (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 14) 4. Staying Healthy: Pray for specific people you know to gain knowledge of His will for their lives. Pray for them according to Paul s prayer in Colossians 1:9-12. Look for evidence of God working in their lives according to His Word in this passage. DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 1: According to Paul's prayer for these believers in verses 9-14, see the evidence of a life worthy and pleasing to God (and His will for us, at least 4 areas!). Fill in the chart below. Evidence of a life worthy and pleasing to God 1. bearing How that would look in someone s life 2. growing 3. being 4. giving 18

25 LESSON TWO Focus on the Meaning: The aim of believers in all their worthy conduct should be to please Him in every way, to anticipate and do His wishes in every aspect of life (cf. Eph. 5:10). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 671) 6. According to verse 11, who gives you the ability to live a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him? Can you do this through your own efforts? Why not? Think About It: Human parents raise their children to become more independent of them over time. God raises His children to become more dependent on Him over time. Dependent living is recognizing you can do nothing worthy of pleasing God on your own efforts. Dependent living is learning to say to Jesus, Lord, I can t do this on my own. But, you can in and through me. I will trust you. Then, watch what He does. 7. Staying Healthy: Is it your desire to live a life worthy and pleasing to God? Why? Which of these 4 evidences of a life worthy and pleasing to God will you trust God s power to do in your life today? 8. In verse 12, Paul says, "who has qualified you (made you competent) to share in the inheritance of the saints." How did God qualify us? Dig into all of Chapter 1 for this answer!! Add any other verses you already know as well. Focus on the Meaning: Here Paul centered thanksgiving on the fact that God has qualified you (lit. made you competent; cf. 2 Cor. 3:6) to share in the inheritance of the saints though believers are unfit in themselves, God has fitted them. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p ) 19

26 HEALTHY LIVING 9. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Read these other prayers of Paul Ephesians 1:17-19; Ephesians 3:16-19 and Philippians 1:9-11. Use these words to pray for your loved ones today. (If they aren t believers yet, pray for their salvation first.) Why is it beneficial to pray this way, using these verses? 10. "Dominion" in v. 13 means "tyranny/ rule." Read Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1-3; and 2 Corinthians 4:4. Before trusting in Christ, what was our experience in the dominion of darkness (in which we are born as sinners)? Scriptural Insights: Satan is not the direct cause of sin in man. However, he rules the fallen world; the unsaved are part of his domain. He is now doing all in his power to keep the unsaved from being delivered from his dominion of darkness and transferred into Christ s kingdom of light. He energizes the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2) and blinds the minds of the unsaved so the light of the gospel can t reach them (2 Corinthians 4:4). 11. How do we get into Christ's kingdom? Historical Insight: The verb translated transferred (metestesen) described the relocation of large groups of people such as captured armies or colonists from one country to another. This kingdom is probably a reference to Christ s domain as opposed to Satan s domain of darkness "Darkness is also a prominent figure in biblical symbolism where it represents ignorance, falsehood, and sin. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, pp ) 12. What do we receive there? 13. What is redemption, and how is it related to forgiveness? Use a dictionary or Bible dictionary to derive your answer. 20

27 LESSON TWO 14. Staying Healthy: Meditate on and then respond to what it means to be transferred from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of the Son of God. Feel free to use any creative means (poem, prose, song, drawing, art) as you respond. DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 15. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 16. Make note of anything in the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 17. To evaluate something you read or hear in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking, use the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Here s an example: After her beloved Christian mother died, a grieving woman needed comfort. To help with her grief, she drew from something she had heard in the culture that her mother had now become an angel and was present with her, communicating with her. So, let s work through the process of discerning truth from error and responding graciously. Step #1: Define the issues/terms. There are really three issues involved: 1. Do Christians become angels when they die? 2. Can our loved ones in heaven see what is happening in our lives on earth and communicate with us? 3. When 21

28 HEALTHY LIVING grieving, how do we turn to Jesus for our comfort rather than traditions that make us feel good but draw us away from Him? Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Continuing with the example given: 1. Do Christians become angels when they die? The biblical truth is that angels and people are clearly distinct in their creation, purpose and destiny (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:13-14). People do not become angels when they die. Our greatest confirmation of this is Jesus Himself. After His resurrection, He appeared in a human body, the same kind we will receive after we die. We will be like Him (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2). Here's the truth we can know: people become like Christ when they die, not like angels. 2. Can our loved ones in heaven see what is happening in our lives on earth and communicate with us? The Bible doesn't clearly tell us if people in heaven are able to observe what happens on earth. The witnesses of Hebrews 12:1 are those Old Testament believers who can testify that it is possible to live a life of faith because they did it. The text doesn't say they are watching us. And, that would not include anyone who died since the Old Testament ended anyway. Can people in heaven communicate with us? The Bible teaches that people on earth are not to communicate with the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Loved ones in heaven are without sin and will not disobey God so they will not try to communicate with us. Feathers, pennies, etc. are normal events and can serve as reminders for us of our loved ones but are not communications from them. Here's the "I don't know" we must humbly accept: we cannot know if our dead loved ones see anything happening on earth. That is a secret thing belonging to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29). Anything else is speculation. 3. When grieving, how do we turn to Jesus for our comfort rather than traditions that make us feel good but draw us away from Him? Our God promises to be a God of comfort and fulfills that promise (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). We should turn to Jesus first for our comfort and let Him choose how He does that for us. He uses people who give us hugs, listen to us talk about our loved one, cry with us and help us when we are weak. Memories of our loved ones are stimulated by sounds, places, sights, smells, and many other reminders associated with that person in our lives. We can take comfort from those stimulated memories and thank God for them. The Holy Spirit pours out Jesus' love in our hearts (Romans 5:5) so we can inwardly feel loved by Him during those times of grief. Jesus can also use His angels who are servants of God as ministering spirits to us (Hebrews 1:14). God's angels (not people angels) are present around us and can influence things happening so as to minister to us. If you feel your loved one close to you, it is likely an angel Jesus has sent to be near you at that time. Here's the truth: Jesus uses people, memories, His Spirit, His love and His angels to comfort us in a time of grief. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Continuing with the example given: I feel how much you are hurting since your mother s death and how much you miss her. While you loved your mom so much that thinking of her as an angel gives you comfort, the Bible teaches this truth that God is giving her a wonderful resurrected human body like Jesus has, not an angel s body. You have wonderful memories of your mom that will crop up through places, smells, sights, and other reminders of your life with her. And, Jesus will comfort you in your grief through those memories, through people He sends to cry with you and help you, through His Spirit pouring love into your heart, and through true angles who will be near you to minister to you in amazing ways during this sad time. Stay focused on the comfort you will receive from Jesus and let your heart just be completely hugged by Him. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 22

29 LESSON THREE 3: Jesus Is Lord over All! Colossians 1:15-23 DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 1:1-23. Colossians 1:15-20 is called the Christ hymn of Colossians We will enjoy this hymn today! 1. What grabs your attention in verses 15-23? 2. List the things said about Christ to show His supremacy. 3. What clues do we get about the heresy (false teaching) being taught in Colosse? (For example, repeated or stressed words or ideas.) Paul s answer is to emphasize who Jesus Christ is in relation to God, to Creation, and to the Church. Jesus in Relation to God 4. Look up the following verses, then write in your own words the meaning of the phrase "image of the invisible God (verse 15). John 1:1,14,18 John 14:9-11 Hebrews 1:3 Image of the invisible God means: 23

30 HEALTHY LIVING 5. Reread verse 19. What else is true about Jesus? 6. Fullness to the Greek philosophers means the sum of the supernatural forces controlling the fate of the people. Regarding God, this fullness is the totality of the Divine powers and attributes. Dwell means to be permanently at home. If the fullness of God is permanently dwelling in Jesus, what part of God is missing in Jesus? Jesus in Relation to Creation 7. What is revealed about Jesus relationship to creation in this passage? Be sure to include all the details given. Scriptural Insight: Christ is the sustainer of creation ( hold together, v. 17). Christ is the Person who preserves and maintains the existence of what He has created Every law of science and of nature is, in fact, an expression of the thought of God. It is by these laws, and therefore by the mind of God, that the universe hangs together, and does not disintegrate in chaos. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 22) 8. Remembering the people and the purpose for which this letter was written, why do you think Paul expounds on the supremacy of Christ over everything, including the highest orders of the spirit world? 9. To understand Paul s use of the term firstborn in verse 15, read Exodus 13:2, and Deuteronomy 21: What were the rights of the firstborn? How does that fit in here? Focus on the Meaning: Just as the firstborn son had certain privileges and rights in the biblical world, so also Christ has certain rights in relation to all creation priority, preeminence, and sovereignty (vv ). (NIV Study Bible, p. 1814) 10. From this passage (Colossians 1:15-20), how do we know that firstborn cannot mean that Christ was the first created being (a commonly taught error since the second century AD)? 24

31 LESSON THREE Christ in Relation to the Church 11. Looking at verse 18, what other role does Christ have and why? 12. Paul uses "firstborn" with a different meaning in verse 18. Examine this phrase in light of these verses: 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Romans 8: Read Romans 1:4; Hebrews 2:14. What else does Jesus resurrection demonstrate? Think About It: The Christ-hymn of Colossians 1:15-20 is a powerful statement about the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ s supremacy is seen at every turn. The first portion focuses on His preeminent role in creation, while the second emphasizes His work as Redeemer. To any Christian, in Colosse then or elsewhere today, who may have been or is confused about Christ s role in the world, these six verses testify to Christ s absolute authority, which is not to be shared with any person, angel, or demon. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 25) 14. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Read aloud these three other Christ hymns found in the New Testament written by different authors John 1:1-5; Philippians 2:6-11 and Hebrews 1:2-4. How are these similar to the one here in Colossians? What, if any, are the differences? Do these confirm that the same information about Jesus is being taught everywhere by all the apostles? 15. Staying Healthy: Considering everything you have learned about who Christ is, how does this affect your faith? In what ways does this change your thoughts and expectations? Think specifically. DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 1: Concentrating on vv , use a dictionary to define the word "reconcile? 25

32 HEALTHY LIVING 17. According to Colossians 1:21 and Romans 5:10, what was our problem? 18. Restate Colossians 1:20-22 in your own words describing what Christ has done for you to solve that problem. Scriptural Insight: It is important to note that people are reconciled to God ( to Himself ) not that God is reconciled to people. For mankind has left God and needs to be brought back to Him. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 674) 19. How should you respond to the truth that you are completely reconciled to God by your faith in Jesus Christ? (Hint: If you can't think of a response, look at Colossians 1:12, 2:7, 3:15, 3:16, and 3:17.) 20. According to verse 22, how does Christ present believers to God? How does that make you feel? From the Greek: In our English translations, holy and sanctified are used interchangeably to translate the Greek word hagios, meaning set apart, separate. For the Christian, to be holy or sanctified means to be set apart from sin and to God as His possession for His exclusive use. Paul refers to the Colossians as holy in 1:2 and 1: Staying Healthy: How does the reconciliation (v. 22) that Christ has accomplished for you as a believer affect the way you relate to: those closest to you? to your PAST? 22. What is the "hope" from which we are not to be moved (v. 23)? 26

33 LESSON THREE Focus on the Meaning: In Lesson 2 and Lesson 3, we have covered three terms related to what Christ has done for you through His death on the cross. These are all part of your identity in Christ and the hope to which we are not to be moved (v. 23). Redemption = You have been purchased by the blood of Christ out of slavery to sin and released into freedom. Reconciliation = The barrier of sin has been taken away, and a bridge has been built. You are able to be saved. Sanctification (made holy) = You are set apart as God s possession for His exclusive use. 23. What do these other verses refer to as our "hope"? Colossians 1:5 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Titus 2:13 1 Peter 1:3-4 Summary: What promises are included in our hope? Focus on the Meaning: Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but confident expectation based on the character of God to back up His promises. 24. According to verse 23, what is your responsibility in order to enjoy the relationship with God you have already received? 25. Staying Healthy: What are some specific things you do to stay established and firm in your faith and not moved from your hope? What will you trust God to help you do in the future? 26. Staying Healthy: What did you learn for yourself regarding how truly great our Lord Jesus is? Feel free to express your thoughts using a creative means (poem, prose, song, art). 27

34 HEALTHY LIVING DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 27. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 28. Make note of anything in the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 29. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Read Truth about Christ Prevents Infection on the next page to gain additional insight and application. Reflect at the end on what you read. 28

35 LESSON THREE Truth about Christ Prevents Infection Colossians 1:15-23 Picture this scenario. It s 2 a.m. A baby is very fussy and restless. The mother awakes, goes to pick her child up out of the crib, and realizes that her infant who was healthy the day before is now burning with fever. There s an infection in the small child s body! The worried parent knows she must treat the infection through medicine and/or a visit to the doctor followed by rest and patiently waiting for the treatment to take hold. The baby will hopefully soon return to healthy living. Heresy is an infection in the Body of Christ. It s not just error; it is anti-truth! And like an infection in the human body, it always affects life so it must be addressed. Thankfully, the answer to all heresy is in the New Testament. Paul made a diagnosis. There was an infection in Colosse, a very serious one. It must be addressed and removed for healing to occur. There were five aspects of this infection: 1) Jewish legalism Gentile converts may have been encouraged or forced to follow the Old Testament Law as part of their new Christian faith. This included observing the Jewish ceremonies and festivals as well. 2) Greek philosophy This included an emphasis on deeper knowledge and mysteries. The Greeks liked "mysteries" so there were quite a few mystery cults in the Hellenistic world. By following their systems of thought, one could gain a higher plane of knowledge than everyone else could have. 3) Asceticism This taught that special privileges and "perfection" were available to a select few initiates who followed specific guidelines to attain that perfection. This was primarily practiced through denying oneself the normal activities and pleasures of life. 4) Worship of angels or spirit beings These were revered as mediators to God. Since a perfect God could have nothing to do with matter (considered evil), this God created several levels of beings, including the angels, to reach mankind, the last of whom was the man Jesus. 5) Jesus, the Semi-Christ This denied the Deity of Jesus, saying that Jesus was only a man. The divine spirit of Christ came upon the man Jesus at His baptism and left Him at the cross so that only the man Jesus died. Or, some taught that Jesus may have been God but had a ghost-type body, not a real one. This view held that in no way could Jesus be fully human and fully God at the same time. Paul also addressed this group in Philippians 2:5-11. Among these false teachings, there was something for everyone, which is so dangerous! This heresy was not denying the Christian faith but lifting it to a higher level. The last two were based upon the thought that matter is all evil and that spirit alone is good and perfect. This philosophy or system of thought developed into a full-blown epidemic called Gnosticism in the second century. Even at this early stage, the heresy said that Christ couldn t be fully human and fully God. The religious sect called Christian Science today is a modern Gnosticism, emphasizing spirit as being perfect and flesh being evil. This kind of teaching gives credit to Jesus as a great teacher whose teaching can be applied to our lives. But it devalues His 29

36 HEALTHY LIVING atonement because He was not the Son of God, and it devalues His resurrection. In fact, a number of theories have been concocted to disprove the resurrection. The false teachers didn t deny that Christ came, but they dethroned Him. They took Him off the throne of the universe and made Him something else. The infection was making the Colossians seriously ill. It will do the same to us! IMMUNE SYSTEM FIGHTS & PREVENTS INFECTION Thankfully, we have a spiritual immune system that fights and prevents infection. There are 3 things upon which we who are truly believers ought to be absolutely immovable. These three things are 1) justification by faith alone, 2) the authority and inerrancy of the Scripture, and 3) the deity of Jesus Christ. The Protestant reformation was founded on these tenets of faith, what they held to be absolutely firm. If any of these three is watered down or compromised, infection results. 1) Justification by faith alone Adding works to faith is called legalism. I liken that to a stroke that paralyzes you. 2) Authority and inerrancy of the Scripture saying Scripture is only man s work and has errors is like strep throat because it spreads germs whenever you open your mouth to speak. 3) Deity of Jesus Christ negating the Deity of Christ is like meningitis because it attacks the protective covering of the brain, and therefore of our mind, causing our minds not to work correctly. This infection negating the deity of Jesus Christ deals with the basic question: Who is Jesus and What has He done? And Paul writes a diagnosis and a prescription for the Colossians and for us. He writes the strongest statement of the supremacy and deity of Christ found anywhere in the New Testament! The Greek words he used are specific for this infection, just like a doctor's prescription for an antibiotic. There was no way those reading or listening to this letter could possibly misunderstand anything that Paul was telling them. The prescribed antibiotic is TRUTH, the truth about Christ in three areas of relationship His relationship to God, His relationship to Creation, and His relationship to the Church. There are four parallel passages. If anyone questions you about the deity of Christ, these 4 parallel passages give you a lot of information, probably anything you need to know to show that Jesus Christ is truly God. These passages are John 1:1-18; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-6; and Colossians 1: I will draw from these in this discussion. First, let s look at the truth about Christ in His relationship to God. JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD In this lesson, you studied Colossians 1:15 that proclaims Jesus to be the image of the invisible God. He is the exact representation of His being, the exact likeness (Hebrews 1:3). In John 14:9, Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." He spent His life showing us who the Father is. All of the gospels teach who Jesus is and, therefore, who God is. You should read the gospel stories to your children over and over. And read them to yourself! We should know the stories about Jesus because if you ve seen Jesus, you ve seen the Father. You know who God is. In Colossians 1:19, Paul uses one of the very words that the false teachers were using the word fullness. The false teachers were claiming that if you went through special rites and ceremonies, you could get to the deeper knowledge of God. You could get a fuller understanding of God. This heresy said that Jesus was good but not enough; you needed more. 30

37 LESSON THREE Paul writes using this word fullness in verse 19, For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him. (Colossians 1:19) That word dwell means to be permanently at home. It cannot mean to leave or to come and go. The fullness of God permanently dwells in Jesus. The word fullness means the totality of the Divine powers and attributes. There is nothing missing. There is nothing more of God that they could get apart from Jesus. About Himself, Jesus said, "And now, Father, glorify Me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." (John 17:5) That phrase, I had with you, means completeness. Jesus the Son and God the Father had completeness together before the foundation of the world. Jesus wasn t any less God before the foundation of the world. He had everything that God the Father had. The false teachers distributed all the divine powers among spiritual beings. What they said was that God was 100% spirit so He was 100% perfect. He created a being that was 90% spirit, and that being created another being that was 80% spirit. This continued until you got to the bottom where you had a spirit being created that was only 10% spirit. So, you were getting closer and closer to matter. And, that last being created matter, the universe, the physical stuff that we see and feel, which was all considered to be evil. A lot of divine power was divided between all of these invisible beings, which is why they started worshiping them. But, Paul gathers them all up in Christ in this word fullness. It is a full and flat statement of the deity of Christ. And, as we ll see in our next lesson, the wonderful thing is that God was pleased to put His fullness in Jesus and pleased to put Jesus in us. So, He is pleased to put the fullness of God in us. Christ in us! It was God's pleasure to do so. Conclusion: By looking at the relationship He had with God, we see that Jesus Christ is God! JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION The second relationship Paul discussed was Jesus relationship to Creation. Firstborn over all creation In Colossians 1:15, Paul writes that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation ( over is a better translation than of ). The word firstborn refers to the heir who has priority to and superiority over everything that the father owns. It was a term regarding privilege and rank. The people of that time understood what it meant. We have a hard time with it. We think of firstborn as being a child of mine who is not me; it has part of me but not all of me. Paul and the Colossians knew exactly what it meant. The heir. The one who had priority over everything the Father owned. And, that describes Jesus. The Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus was the firstborn over all other things. In their Bible translation, they insert the word "other" 6 times in the passage though "other" is not found in the original Greek document! They claim that Jesus was created first then created everything else. Sound familiar? It is an attempt to devalue Christ as the supreme Creator and the Son of God but yet still give Him credit for doing something. 31

38 HEALTHY LIVING Created all things In Colossians 1:16, we read that Jesus created all things. Paul didn t use that phrase just one time. Did you happen to notice that he used it several times? All things was a specific, well-known Greek phrase universally understood to mean everything in the entire universe visible and invisible. Paul clarifies his meaning for us by saying things in heaven, things on earth, the visible, and the invisible. That's all there is! Jesus created the invisible beings; He was not created by them. This again refutes the false teaching about levels of spirit beings. But, someone might say, I thought God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 says so. Where was Jesus at this time? There is no contradiction here. God created the heavens and the earth. When you turn to John 1:1-3, 14, it tells us where Jesus was. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. (John 1:1-13, 14) Who was the Word? Christ. Through Christ, things were made. In Hebrews 1:2, we read that God made the universe through Christ. Creation was planned by the Father but done through the Son and for the Son. The Son was the "Master Workman" of Creation. It was done for His pleasure. He made all these things that we know and enjoy, including our own bodies, for His pleasure. Holds all things together Not only is He firstborn, not only did He create all things, but Colossians 1:17 says that He holds all things together. This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. He is why we are not floating or flying apart! He is why we continue to exist. The phrase holds together means to cohere, to hold together like glue is holding things together. Hebrews 1:3 says that He sustains all things by His powerful word. Christ is the controlling and unifying force in nature. This sweeps away that early gnostic view that matter is evil and was created by a remote spirit so that the creator of the universe could not have any hands-on experience with what He created. The Son of God is the hands-on Creator and sustainer of the universe. Therefore, it (the universe) cannot be evil. There are two unexplainable forces that govern our everyday lives. These forces can be described, can have mathematical equations that measure them, and can be overcome. You see their effects all over the place. But, they cannot be explained. Those are the force of gravity and the force that holds the nucleus of an atom together. Just as the north poles of two magnets will always repel one another, the protons in a nucleus should be repelling each other causing the atom to break apart. They don t. What is holding that atom together? Scientists still do not know in spite of the many theories proposed. I know who is holding that atom together. I know who is keeping us on this ground. That is Christ. This is why I love science. It is a visible manifestation of God's Creative work. You cannot study any aspect of science without gaining a greater appreciation of our great God. Scientists who dismiss God are blinding themselves to what they actually see because if they acknowledge God, they must be accountable to Him. It is easier to pretend that He doesn't exist. You see, the fact that there is a Creator means that He owns everything. He owns each person. He has total right over our lives and has a right to set the rules (and thus tell us what is right and wrong) because He is the Creator, the Absolute Authority. We can know what is good and bad because 32

39 LESSON THREE there is ONE who is good and who can, therefore, define right and wrong. We as humans need to submit ourselves totally to the One who owns us. It is not mere human opinion. Conclusion: By looking at the relationship He had with Creation, we see that Jesus Christ is God! JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH The third area of Jesus identity is His relationship to the Church. Head of the Church In Colossians 1:18, we read that Christ is the head of the body, the Church. Ephesians 2:15 says that He (Christ) created the Church by combining Jews and Gentiles into one body of believers, and He appointed Himself head of that body. Not only is Christ sovereign over the natural universe and the invisible world, He is also sovereign over the newly created Church. Firstfruits of the resurrection But, we also see in Colossians 1:18 that Christ is the firstborn from among the dead. Jesus received a new body. He was the first one to receive an immortal body. When Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11), he was raised in His same earthly body only to die again. The same thing was true of the widow s son (Luke 7) and the synagogue ruler s daughter (Luke 8). When Jesus was raised from the dead, He was raised in a brand-new body, never to die again. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul uses the same phrase except he uses firstfruits instead of firstborn. The firstfruits was the first part of a harvest brought by a farmer as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. This was a down payment that declared the promise of more to come. And, though not brought for sacrifice, the farmer was declaring that the rest of the harvest belonged to God as well. Christ is the guarantee of the resurrection of all of God's redeemed people. Again, He was first in this. He is first in everything. Paul is trying to let the Colossians and us know that Jesus is first in everything! Reconciles and restores people Jesus is also the reconciler and the redeemer (verses 20-22). That word reconcile in the Greek stands for complete reconciliation, not ever to be broken again. It doesn t leave room for breaking off that reconciliation. We are reconciled once and for all when we accept Christ, when we believe in Him. It is a completeness; it is done. People are reconciled to God, not vice versa. It is man who left God; God didn't leave man. We are reconciled through Jesus physical death on the Cross. Paul left no room for any teaching that the Christ spirit came to the body at Jesus baptism and left His body on the cross before death. It was the Christ who died on the cross. There is only one way! This reminds me of two women whom I had the privilege of discipling in the early 80s. Both of them wanted God badly. They had a hunger for spiritual things, longing for them. But, they could not accept Jesus. That was a stumbling block to them. Their thinking was, Why can t I have God without Jesus? I believe in God. Isn t that good enough? It wasn t until they understood that God made a certain plan. If you want the benefits of His plan, you are going to have to enter His plan His way. You don t have to take His plan. But, if you want salvation, if you want to be reconciled to God, you are going to have to go through Jesus. They both took that step of faith and afterwards the Holy Spirit opened their minds to understand what God s wonderful plan was. They both embraced Jesus as the author of life and the pioneer of our faith. 33

40 HEALTHY LIVING Reconciles and restores Creation In Romans 8:19-22, we read that the whole creation groans under the corruption that sin brought into the world, as if the whole universe were somehow out of harmony. Sin has put the universe out of joint, and Christ will set it right again. In Colossians 1:20, Paul once again declares that all things will be reconciled things on earth and things in heaven. What's left out? Things under the earth, the invisible, and demons. Those in hell are not reconciled to God. They ve lost the opportunity. Why does God do all this through Jesus? The answer is in verse 18, So that in everything He might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:18) God wanted Jesus to be first in everything. First in creation. First in the resurrection. First in the Church. In everything, He is to be first. He became flesh to show us God (John 1:14). He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8) to reconcile and redeem us. He was exalted by God (Philippians 2:9) to sustain us. MODERN VIRUS THE RELIGION OF EVOLUTION Gnosticism was easily identified and contained. But today, we have a virus seriously infecting the Church, not just locally either. And, most of us don't realize how much it has already affected our minds. This virus is masquerading as a religion the religion of evolution. It says that man is not at enmity with God and that man can get better through genetic engineering and environmental controls. Evolution rejects God as Creator and, therefore, rejects His rules. People then logically accept anti-god philosophies. There are many Christians saying, "Why can't we just believe that God used evolution?" This is a very common belief among the churches of today. But the Bible teaches clearly that death came into the world after Adam sinned, and not millions of years before man evolved. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death came to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12) World translates a derivative of kosmos, a Greek word used often by Paul. We see his use in this well-known verse: "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) It is also used in Acts 17:24: "The God who made the world and all things in it." (Acts 17:24) The word kosmos means order, arrangement. The Greeks understood this to mean the entire universe because of the order observable in it. It was not just the world of humanity. It is not just death coming to men. Death came into the whole universe, the whole world, because of the one man s sin. I mentioned above that the creation is groaning because of the corruption of sin (Romans 8:19-22). In fact, the very reason for death is because God, as a God of love, provided a means for man's deliverance from sin. When man rebelled against God, he immediately died spiritually (separated 34

41 LESSON THREE from God) and began to die physically. Consider the phrase, " for you are dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19). In order for that to be a curse, it had to be something new. It must not have been a natural, normal thing. Death is a curse. Mankind was cut off from God and would have remained so for eternity. But, God provided a means by which man could come back to God to spend eternity with Him. "Without shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins." (Hebrews 9:22) God introduced death and bloodshed so man could be redeemed (Genesis 3:21). There was no death before Adam fell. In fact, if death and bloodshed had existed before Adam sinned, the message of redemption would be nonsense. God, in His love, introduced death so we could die and leave our sinful bodies. Otherwise, we would have to live forever separated from Him. But, Jesus Christ came to die and shed His precious blood on a cross and be raised from the dead so we could spend eternity with Him. The evolutionary process is one of death and struggle over millions of years, eventually resulting in man coming into existence. The evolutionist sees today's world of death and suffering as an evolutionary one. The Bible teaches that the world we see is a cursed one. It is a world originally created in a perfect state by God and it has suffered the degenerative effects of the curse and the catastrophic effects of a global flood. But, God is in the process of restoring His creation through the reconciliation work of Christ. Thus, evolution and the Bible are in total conflict. The first would have us believe that death and bloodshed is the means by which man evolved. The Bible clearly teaches that death will be cancelled and man will be redeemed through belief in Christ! Therefore, evolution destroys and undermines the whole message of the Cross. Christians who believe in evolution need to recognize that they are really denying Jesus as Creator and destroying the foundations of the Gospel message they are trying to preach. CONCLUSION Are you holding fast to all that He is and all that we have in Him? Is there a spiritual infection in your body? In your church body? Here s how you get back to Healthy Living. Take your antibiotic of TRUTH and get well. Engage in preventive care stay away from what makes you sick. Bolster your immune system by holding on to the 3 tenets of faith: 1) Justification by faith alone, 2) Authority and inerrancy of the Scriptures and 3) the Deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven. REFLECT ON WHAT YOU JUST READ 35

42 HEALTHY LIVING 36

43 LESSON FOUR 4: Christ in You Colossians 1:24-2:5 DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 1:3-2:5. 1. Now look specifically at verses 1:24-2:5. Which ideas or words do you see repeated here from the previous passages (give verses)? Which ideas or words do you see repeated within this passage (give verses)? 2. When you hear the word mystery, what comes to mind? Focus on the Meaning: The Greek word translated "mystery" means something previously unknown, but now-revealed truth. The Greeks talked much of "mysteries. Paul takes their very word and uses it for the gospel. This contrasted with the Colossian heretics notion that a mystery was a secret teaching known only to an exclusive group and unknown to the masses. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 674) 3. Looking at Paul s reference to mystery in Colossians 1:26-27 and 2:2-3. What does Paul say about God's mystery? What is the mystery now revealed? 37

44 HEALTHY LIVING Scriptural Insight: The mystery was not that Gentiles would be saved but how they could be 'fellow-heirs' (Eph. 3:6, KJV), on the same level with Jews, with no middle wall of partition between them (Eph. 2:12-14) That God would save Gentiles was no new revelation (Isa. 49:6), but that He would dwell in them and deal with them on the same basis as He did Jews was new revelation. (Dr. Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 30) 4. Deeper Discoveries: Look up the following verses which represent the New Testament writers reference to the mysteries of God. Fill out the chart following the example given. Verse(s) The mystery revealed By whom? To whom? Example: Matthew 13:10-11 Romans 16: Corinthians 15:50-54 Ephesians 3:2-6 Colossians 1:25-27 Colossians 2:2-3 1 Timothy 3:16 The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven Jesus The disciples 5. Based on the context of what you have read so far, what do you think may have been the "fine-sounding argument" (2:4) proclaimed by the false teachers at Colosse? 6. What does Colossians 2:2-3 say about that? 7. The gospel is public information. There are no secrets just for a few. How do Paul s words in Colossians 1:6, 23, 26 support this? 38

45 LESSON FOUR 8. Reread Colossians 1:24. In trying to understand what Paul is saying, we know that Christ's suffering was enough for our salvation so Paul doesn t mean that it wasn t. He completed His work (John 17:4, 19:30). So, Paul is not saying that we have to suffer to add to what Christ did. Let s see what he could mean. According to Acts 9:1-6, who suffers when we suffer? What does 2 Corinthians 1:5-9 say about how we share in Jesus sufferings? Now read 2 Corinthians 1:9; 13:4 and Romans 5:3-5. In what ways is suffering beneficial to you as a Christian? 9. In Colossians 1:25, Paul talks about a commission or stewardship he received from God. Read Acts 9:15-16 and 26:12-20, from whom did Paul get his commission? What was the commission (stewardship) given to Paul from the first day of His faith in Christ? Was suffering part of his commission? Has he experienced suffering while fulfilling his commission? (Hint: from where is he writing?) Has he stayed true to that commission in spite of suffering? See Colossians 1:25 again. 10. Staying Healthy: Thinking back on any suffering that you have experienced. How was that time of suffering beneficial to you or to those around you? Can you now see good that came from it? If you are still struggling to see a benefit to suffering, pour out your heart to Jesus and ask Him to help you see some good in it. 39

46 HEALTHY LIVING DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 1:24-2: As you read through the following verses, notice the phrases, "in Him," "by Him," "in Christ," and "through Him." What do these verses say about who you are AND what you have in Christ? Romans 5:9 Romans 8:1 1 Corinthians 1:30 2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:21 Ephesians 1:3 Ephesians 1:13 Ephesians 2:5 Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 3: Why do you think there is so much emphasis on the phrases "in Him, "in Christ," and "through Him? 40

47 LESSON FOUR 13. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Read Ephesians 1:1-2:10. Write down what you possess as a believer, or what is true of you as a believer. Personalize it. EXAMPLE: "I am a saint." (1:1) 14. As a believer, you are in Christ. According to Colossians 1:27, what is also true about you?, What could the hope of glory mean? Glean all of Colossians 1 plus 3:4 for your answer. Focus on the Meaning: Your position in Christ is your: Acceptance before God, assurance of salvation, and identity. Christ's presence in you is: Life (regeneration), power for living, the basis of a relationship with God, plus promise and hope. The Holy Spirit is called a deposit or down payment on our salvation, giving assurance of the completion of His work. (Ephesians 1:13-14) 15. According to today s passage, why should we proclaim Christ? 16. Read Colossians 1:22, 29 and Philippians 1:6. The same energy working in Paul is also working in you. Who enables (empowers) you to become fully mature in Christ? What part do you have in the process of becoming fully mature in Christ? See all of Colossians 1:1-2:6 for your answer (give verses). 17. Why does Christ so powerfully work in you? Review Colossians 1:10 and 23 for insight. 41

48 HEALTHY LIVING Think About It: The entire statement shows that through faith in Christ we can link our life with a source of strength that enables us to rise above our natural limitations. (Dr. Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 32) 18. Staying Healthy: What difference does knowing about Christ s power in you for your own spiritual maturity make when you are facing everyday life, a difficult day or a strenuous task? Get specific think about events in your recent past (like yesterday!!) Remember, dependent living is recognizing your weakness and relying on His power to make you able to do whatever He gives you to do. Think About It: Jesus Christ laid down His life for you so that He could give His life to you so that He could live His life through you. That is the gospel! (Ian Thomas, The Saving Life of Christ)) 19. Reread Colossians 2:1-5. What does Paul want for everyone who has not met him personally (that includes you)? 20. Considering the relationship that Paul has with this church and the main emphasis of his letter, what would be the value of believers being " united in love (verse 2)? Think About It: Only a love which penetrates to the heart and wells up from the heart can sustain the sort of unity that Paul sought. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 25) 21. In what 2 specific things about the Colossian church does Paul delight (verse 5)? 22. Thinking about what you ve learned in this lesson, how is Paul present with them in spirit though absent from them physically? 42

49 LESSON FOUR 23. Staying Healthy: Meditate on CHRIST IN YOU. How does that truth make you feel? How should it impact your life? What habitual attitudes and actions on your part would you like to see CHRIST in you change? Just say, Lord Jesus, I can t do (the change) on my own, but you can in me and through me. I will trust you to do that. Then, watch what He does! DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 24. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 25. Make note of anything in the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 26. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. 43

50 HEALTHY LIVING Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 44

51 LESSON FIVE 5: Made Alive with Christ Colossians 2:6-15 DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 2:1-23. As you read, keep in mind what you have learned about the heresy affecting the Colossian church so you will recognize the instructions and solutions Paul gives to them. 1. As you read Chapter 2, what especially interested you or brought questions to your mind? 2. What seems to be the main idea stressed in Chapter 2? 3. Focusing on vv. 6-15, what ideas from Colossians 1:1-2:5 are repeated or stressed in this passage (give verses)? 4. Reread Colossians 2:6-7. In verse 6, what does Paul confirm to them first? Focus on the Meaning: Christ Jesus the Lord, [v. 6] a phrase that Paul used nowhere else, counteracts three false conceptions of the Savior. These are His deity ( Christ ) that Judaism denied, His humanity ( Jesus ) that Docetists denied, and His sovereignty ( Lord ) that many varieties of false teaching denied. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 36) 45

52 HEALTHY LIVING 5. As those who have received Christ Jesus as Lord, how are they to continue to live in Him by faith (verse 7)? 6. Let s look at these phrases more closely. See how this list matches the way Paul prayed for them to live a life worthy of the Lord in Colossians 1: What would it mean to be rooted and built up in Christ? What would it mean to be strengthened in the faith as you were taught? What would it mean to be overflowing with thankfulness? 7. Staying Healthy: Okay, now what does this really mean? Get specific. How have you been rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught? If not, keep relying on Jesus to teach you as you study Colossians. Your faith will be strengthened through Paul s teaching. DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 2: Paul agonizes over the danger of believers being deluded or led away from God's truth. He issues a watch out here so we will take notice. The danger is very real. According to verse 8, what could take the Colossians (and us) captive as conquered prey? 9. Let s examine this more closely. Read the explanation of these terms on page 53. How would you recognize hollow and deceptive philosophy? 46

53 LESSON FIVE 10. What do you think Paul means by human tradition? 11. The phrase elemental spiritual forces of this world is a curious one. Read the Focus on the Meaning below. Focus on the Meaning: The elemental spiritual forces of this world are basic elements of religion undergirded by demonic forces and include anything that leads you to believe you can do without God. These spiritual strategies are the same used by Satan with Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3: Did God really say? (v. 1), You will not surely die (v. 4), and You will be like God (v. 5). This would also include bondage to fate. Before Christ, we are subject to those elemental spiritual forces. But through union with Christ, we die in relation to them and are no longer bound to obey them. (F. F. Bruce, The Colossian Heresy, Part 3 of Colossian Problems, Bibliotheca Sacra, 141, July-September 1984:196, ). Give some examples of philosophies and current trends of thought that are likely influenced by elementary spiritual forces of this world. 12. Staying Healthy: Paul was extremely concerned about the heresy (anything that is not according to what the Word of God teaches) that was infiltrating the churches. What kind of hollow and deceptive input into your thoughts are you receiving now or have received in the past that could still be affecting you? Ask yourself about any teaching or influence you have accepted: "Where does Jesus fit into their thinking, their philosophy?" Ask someone to pray specifically for you to be released from anything that is taking you "captive." How can gratefulness protect you from being deceived (1:11; 2:7)? How does ungratefulness make you vulnerable to deception? Scriptural Insight: True Christian philosophy take[s] captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Philosophy is the love of wisdom, but if one loves wisdom that is not Christ, he loves an empty idol. Such a one will be always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth (2 Tim. 3:7). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 677) Look at page 56 for a 4-step process to help you take every thought captive to Christ. 47

54 HEALTHY LIVING 13. Focus on Colossians 2:9-15. Let s get a grasp of the facts: In whom does all the fullness of Deity dwell in bodily form? What have you been given in Christ? Who is the head over every power and authority? Where else has Paul emphasized this in Colossians? Why? 14. Circumcision in the Old Testament referred to the physical cutting away of the flesh as a sign of being part of the Jew's covenant with God, a symbol of faith. According to the following verses, what does circumcision mean in the New Testament? Colossians 2:11 Romans 2:28-29 Philippians 3:2-3 Summary: 15. What does Paul mean by being "buried with Him in baptism?" See also Romans 6: What parallels are there between circumcision and baptism? 17. Name everything that God has done for us according to Colossians 2:13-15? 18. Deeper Discoveries (optional): What does "dead in your sins" mean? See James 4:17 and Ephesians 2:1-10. Can we save ourselves? See James 2:10 and Galatians 3:10. 48

55 LESSON FIVE 19. Since Jesus death was in the past while we live subsequent to that event, how many of our sins were forgiven by Jesus death on the cross (verse 13)? 20. What was the code that was against us and has now been canceled? Look at other translations of this verse and cross references to derive your answer. 21. Colossians 2:15 is a curious verse. Reflect on the following quotes then respond below. Scriptural Insight: The disarming of the angelic "rulers and authorities" probably refers to Christ's defeat of Satan and his evil angelic (demonic) powers by His death and resurrection The "public display" probably refers to Jesus' disgracing of the powers of evil when He died on the cross, by bearing the sin that was their claim and hold on human beings. Christ "triumphed over" Satan's hosts ("them") at the cross (see 2 Cor. 2:14-16). (Constables Notes on Colossians, p. 43) Jesus, in His own interest (and in the interest of His people) disarmed the principalities and powers, depriving them of their strength Jesus, by the victory of the cross, turned the tables on His spiritual assailants; their powerlessness, not His, was publicly exposed Christ has shown Himself to be their Master, and those who are united to Him by faith need have no fear of them. (F. F. Bruce, Christ as Conqueror and Reconciler, Part 4 of Colossian Problems, Bibliotheca Sacra 141, January-March 1984: ) Response: 22. Staying Healthy: In Jesus, we have been made complete (Greek = pleroo which means "to fill" or "be made full") through identification with Christ. How have you been "brought to fullness" or made "full" in Him (Jesus)? Give verses from chapters 1 and 2. Are you still searching for more? Why? 49

56 HEALTHY LIVING DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 23. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 24. Make note of anything in the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 25. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. 50

57 LESSON FIVE Read What Takes Women Captive? after this lesson for additional insight and application. Reflect at the end on what you read. 51

58 HEALTHY LIVING What Takes Women "Captive?" Colossians 2:8 It was July We were in Westcliffe, CO conducting summer camps for Wilderness Encounter Programs, our wilderness-based camp ministry. A group of ~30 was renting our facility the next week. It was a regional youth camp for a Colorado-based church. I was in charge of providing meals. Ron would be gone for the week. So, the meals were planned and shopping was done. As Ron was about to leave, he commented, "By the way, we have just been informed that there are 6-10 vegetarians coming. Hope this doesn't cause too much trouble. (Great! Sloppy Joes were planned for the first meal.) He also said this group is not your typical church youth group." (Great! Our senior staff members were on 21-day backpacking trips in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The only ones left on site were basically women & children!) A quick prayer went up, "Lord, please help us!" Ron left. The group came. They looked like typical high school kids and adults but were very different from the usual youth groups that came to our camp. We smiled, welcomed them, and fed them. During that week, we watched as they tried to find God in inanimate things such as staring at a candle for an hour and chanting with Native American medicine men in order to get in tune with the Great Father and Mother Earth. We watched as they meditated upon the god being created in each of them and listened as they openly discussed their gender identities. We listened to the blasphemy that was being taught, and we prayed for spiritual protection and guidance. That week, we served "prisoners," people who had been taken captive. They were taken captive by the philosophy that God is an impersonal energy field, an IT something that binds the universe together. They were taken captive by the concept that good and bad are relative. Since each person is part of the god-force of the universe, each one determines what is good or bad. The message portrayed was this: salvation comes through uniting one's personal spiritual energy with the other-god-energy of the universe. Sadly, most of them were females either as teenage girls or as adult counselors. The main leader was a woman, hardened by her interaction with the world. Most had experienced some contact with legalistic Christianity in their lives, found it to be wanting, and rejected it as being insufficient to meet their needs. How did they get in such sad shape? What opens us up to such captivity? Are women particularly susceptible? If so, why? What takes us captive as women? The church leaders at Colosse were dealing with this same issue. Some members of their congregation were being taken captive by false teaching. Paul responded with the strongest statement of the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ found in the entire New Testament. LET CHRIST ALONE TAKE YOU CAPTIVE See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8) Let s unpack this verse. 52

59 LESSON FIVE Taken captive = as a slave, conquered prey, no longer free. Hollow = empty, like a hollow chocolate rabbit that crumbles easily. Deceptive = cannot deliver what it promises, trickery, fraud. Philosophy = the love and pursuit of wisdom. This is not condemning knowledge and wisdom, but the foolish stuff. Based upon human tradition = Traditions may be good or bad. The phrase is used here to mean harmful, worthless traditions. What is the qualifying test? Anything that dethrones Christ and puts us into bondage again. Basic principles of this world = elemental, ABCs of the world system and philosophies under the influence of Satan and his demons. This would include anything that leads you to believe you can do without God. Before Christ, we are subject to those "elemental forces," but through union with Christ, we die in relation to them and are no longer bound to obey them. But in Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul warns us that our struggle is against demonic forces which cause us to focus on the material and the external rather than on Christ. Examples: astrology, psychic hotline, superstitions and fear, and an obsession with angels or supernatural experiences. Rather than on Christ = principles embodied and taught by Christ. Christ is the yardstick by which to measure philosophy and all phases of human knowledge. Ask: "Where does Jesus fit into their thinking, their philosophy?" Are women particularly susceptible to being taken captive? Remember who was deceived first in the Garden of Eden? Eve. Yet she was deceived for the same reasons all of us are, both men and women the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. I don't believe women have the corner on the market for being deceived, but I do believe we are particularly susceptible to deception because of our emotional makeup. WHY ARE WOMEN EASILY TAKEN CAPTIVE? What makes us easy prey for being taken captive? The Bible addresses this for us as well: "But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7) That list describing people with a lot of influence is scary, isn t it? Let s look more closely at them and their way of gaining influence over women. False teachers having a form of godliness but denying its power. Making a pretense of being religious (looking good on the outside) but denying the source of true spiritual "power" (God's Word and reliance on God s Spirit), even claiming to be Christians. These deceivers 53

60 HEALTHY LIVING Worm their way into homes. Another translation says, "Creep into," like slimy, creepycrawly creatures. Stealthy. What or who leaves the door open? Gain control. That phrase literally means, "take captive." How does that happen? Over gullible women. That's an interesting phrase. A lot of us are pretty strong-willed. Just ask my husband. The Greek word Paul used here means, "little women." This word is used only here in the New Testament, and it is not a flattering word. One commentary suggests it refers to society ladies who are restless for something new. Never satisfied. Being dissatisfied makes women vulnerable and gullible. The idea here is that of undisciplined, unsatisfied, and therefore unstable women who are: 1) Loaded down with sins. Guilt-ridden. 2) Swayed by all kinds of evil desires. "Fed by various lusts." 3) Always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Constantly searching. Out of a so-called "openness to learn," they evidently embraced as a fad whatever new heresy came along. Their problem was that they could not recognize the truth when they saw it. This is a sad picture painted here of hypnotized women powerless to cut through the fog of words and, though always learning scraps of things, never coming into the full knowledge of the truth of Christ." The result is that these women become victims of false teachers. Historically, many cults have led women into licentiousness under the guise of religion or liberty; cult leaders often have their own harems. Many present-day cults were started by women. The New Age movement is saturated with prominent women as is goddess worship and modern mysticism. WHAT TAKES US CAPTIVE? Being weighed down with guilt feeds our vulnerability Why are we so easily weighed down with guilt? Perhaps it stems from not being able to measure up to other's expectations of us or our own expectations of ourselves. We feel insufficient in many areas of our lives beauty, family expectations, societal expectations, and others. Beauty is defined by the movie and television industry as well as the published media. Only those who measure with little or no cellulite on the upper thighs can qualify. But, it s a fact of life that aging brings on wrinkles and gray hair and rearranged centers of gravity. The culture gets us confused about what true beauty is. We see on the screen what the men are swooning over, and then look in the mirror and see that we don't measure up. Sometimes within our families, parents will hold up role models to emulate by what they do, not by who/what they are. Character is more important than achievements or career. But, it is not communicated that way. So, we feel we can never measure up to that person being touted by a parent. The same thing happens with the subject of education and career. The cultural message sometimes seems to be that only by having a college degree and resultant career can you have value. Or, you must contribute financially to the household to be of value. Or, the opposite view that a woman must stay at home to be of value. Either way, we may feel guilt-ridden for not being the perfect woman, wife or mom. 54

61 LESSON FIVE We can also carry guilt for past mistakes done by us or for harbored anger and resentment against those who have injured us. Unresolved anger turns into self-pity then depression and despair. Not good for us! The resulting attitudes can be, I can't measure up, therefore I am not worthy. My life is meaningless. I should end it. Everyone would be much happier. You have just been captured as a prisoner of guilt. Feasting on various lusts increases our discontentment. Allowing ourselves to feast on our lusts only increases our discontentment. Women have a desire to be loved and give love. In order to meet that need, the lure of sexual immorality may be strong. Give in, and you ll be guilt-ridden unless you deal with it biblically. Then, there is the whole desire to be married and have children. What if that right man has not come along? What if your body doesn t cooperate to give you children? You may feel trapped because you feel you have been dealt some bad cards. What if you have this drive to have it all, the Superwoman philosophy husband, children, prominent career, and a home cooked meal on the table every night at 7:00? The house is always clean. Everything matches. Perfectionism. A drive to have absolute control over your environment usually makes everyone around you unhappy. You never allow yourself to feel contentment. Paul addresses contentment in his first letter to Timothy. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge the men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (selected from 1 Tim 6:1-19) Touching but never grasping the full truth You may be exposed to truth, but you are not taking what you learn and applying it to your life. But being exposed to truth is only half the issue. You have to hold vigorously to it so you won't be taken captive. The best approach is to discern what you read and hear by comparing it with the complete revelation of God s Word (the whole Bible). You can t extract pieces of it (that is, a verse or group of verses) and build your foundation on that. Nor should you build your faith on experiences and feelings. There s junk out there about God and what He thinks so it s important to really get to know the God of the Bible and how to live your life in Christ truthfully. The Holy Spirit uses the Scripture you read and study to teach you about your God so you can know truth and dwell in that truth. Dangerous teaching comes from picking and choosing what you consider to be truth. All false teachers through the centuries have taken advantage of people who were not dwelling in the truth portrayed in the whole Bible. 55

62 HEALTHY LIVING PRACTICE TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO CHRIST Here s a process to help you take captive any error in thinking and replace it with truth that is obedient to Christ. Practice these: 1. Pass everything you believe through the grid of God s Word. Does it line up with Scriptural truth? 2. Ask for the Holy Spirit s guidance to discern God-pleasing thoughts from thoughts that grieve His heart. Practice taking the wrong thoughts captive and replace them with truth from the Bible. 3. Question your emotions to see if they are based on truth or lies. As you practice taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ, then your emotions will be based on truth. 4. Recognize that error in thinking affects your behavior & relationships. As you practice taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ, you will be transformed by the Spirit into a godly woman reflecting Christ well. LET CHRIST ALONE TAKE YOU CAPTIVE Hang onto this: your faith is based upon fact rather than feeling. Cling to the facts. Jesus said that we would know the truth and that the TRUTH sets us free. You will discern truth from error. You will not be in bondage. You will not be taken captive. "Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) The answer is this: recognize who you would be without Christ, who you are now and what you have in Christ. Then, be grateful for His love and acceptance of you just as you are. Today. And, His plan for your future. It s good! "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! REFLECT ON WHAT YOU JUST READ 56

63 LESSON SIX 6: Unhealthy Living Colossians 2:16-23 Scriptural Insight: Having revealed what believers have in Christ, Paul next pointed out the errors of the false teachers more specifically to help his readers identify and reject their instruction Sad to say, there are many Christians who actually believe that some person, religious system, or discipline can add something to their spiritual experience. But they already have everything they ever will need in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p ) DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 2: Now look specifically at verses What is Paul's tone in this passage? 2. What ideas are repeated here that you have already observed in Colossians 1:1-2:15 (give verses)? 3. What ideas are repeated within this passage (Colossians 2:16-23, give verses)? 4. Paul uses the word "therefore" to begin this passage. (So, what is the "therefore" there for?) Summarize in your own words Paul's main message to the Colossians (and to us) from the beginning of the letter to this point so you can understand his emphasis in vv List the ways false teaching has begun to infiltrate the church of Colosse. 57

64 HEALTHY LIVING The temptation of legalism (relying on keeping rules to maintain acceptance before God and/or other Christians) is affecting the Colossians. Paul began to address this in vv when he said circumcision of the heart done by Christ in believers is greater than the old practice of cutting the skin. We died with Christ and are raised to new life with Him. Legalism is a substitute for Christ. 6. Focusing on vv : How is your standing before God NOT to be judged? Why? 7. Never underestimate the impressiveness (or oppressiveness) of legalism (part of the elementary principles of the world mentioned in v. 8 and 20). Why do you think the Gentiles in the Colossian church would even be tempted by legalism? Read Hebrews 10:1-8 and Romans 8:1-8. Why shouldn t we revert back to following the religious Law to please God? 8. Who is the only one qualified to act as your judge on how you live out your spiritual life? Why? Provide verses from Colossians 1 and 2 to explain your answer. 9. Notice that the rules mentioned here were all ethically neutral things. Think of some modernday examples of legalistic rules that affect Christian churches and their members. The temptation of mysticism (reliant on visions, angelic sightings, or supernatural experiences to improve your relationship with God) is affecting the Colossians. Paul uses the terms worship of angels and what he has seen to identify this activity. Mysticism is a substitute for Christ. 58

65 LESSON SIX 10. Read Colossians 2:18-19 in 3 different translations on your Bible app or online (i.e., biblegateway.com) and fill out the following chart to see how Paul describes those who seek such visions, angelic sightings, or supernatural experiences and the results in their lives. I ve filled out the NIV for you. Translation Verse 17 Verse 18 NIV Delights in false humility, goes into great detail about what they ve see, puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind Lost connection with the head (Christ, 1:18) 11. Our God chooses to appear in visions and dreams to those who are in Christ as well as to those who are not yet His. The timing and manner is His choice. Paul is addressing those who seek special visions and supernatural experiences. Why would that happen? What is the true problem? Look back at all of Colossians 1 and 2 to get your answer. Give verses. 12. Read Galatians 1:6-9, 18 and 2 Corinthians 11: According to these verses, why is it possible for angelic sightings or supernatural experiences to be from a source other than God? 13. Paul uses the Greek word translated false humility (NIV) twice in this passage (vv. 18 and 23). Read the Focus on the Meaning below to see the fruits of false humility. Focus on the Meaning: False humility is being proud of one s humbleness and unworthiness to go directly to God and to instead seek a mediator whom you think is easier to approach than God angels or dead religious heroes. Or, you seek supernatural experiences that validate your emotions, making you feel closer to God. Anyone who does have such a supernatural experience can become puffed up with self-conceit because of a sense of importance and elitism. The Colossians heresy included a form of mysticism (seeking heavenly visions or experiences) which temped its followers to look on themselves as a spiritual elite leaving one at risk of 59

66 HEALTHY LIVING being so unbalanced by the experience that one could no longer distinguish truth from error. People who have mystical experiences tend to attach more importance to what they saw or heard in the course of such an experience than to the sober truth of the Word of God. (F. F. Bruce, The Colossian Heresy, Part 3 of Colossian Problems, Bibliotheca Sacra, 141, July-September 1984:200, 202) What are the dangers of seeking visions or supernatural experiences? Who or what is being substituted for Him? 14. Paul says that seeking mystical experiences will disqualify (deprive) you for the prize (reward). Of what are you being deprived? (Look carefully for your answer within all of Chapter 2.) Think About It: Although the enemy cannot separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, once you are saved he delights in deceiving you so you don t appropriate what is yours. His strategy is to convince you that whatever you need from God you don t deserve. He wants to convince you that you shouldn t ask Him for it or expect Him to give it to you. (Kay Arthur, Lord, Is It Warfare?) 15. Staying Healthy: The temptation to mysticism is as true today as it was at the time Paul wrote to the Colossians. If you or someone you hear about claims to see a vision, to encounter an angel, or to have a supernatural experience: What should be the main message proclaimed in order for it to be a true message from God? Explain your answer. What clues would help you recognize that this person is not satisfied with all that she already has in Christ so that she is seeking a substitute? DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 2: The temptation of asceticism (strict self-denial as a means of personal holiness and earning merit with God) is affecting the Colossians. Asceticism is a substitute for Christ. 60

67 LESSON SIX 16. Let s focus now on vv What spiritual practice initiated by false teaching does Paul attack next? 17. Focusing on verse 23: These do not s seem to have the appearance of what? How? What does Paul say these spiritual practices of outward performance or compliance can NEVER accomplish (verse 23)? Why is that? Refer back to Romans 8:1-8. Focus on the Meaning: If people practice various forms of abstinence and find their spiritual health improved thereby, that is their own responsibility. But if they make their abstinence a matter of boasting, and if they try to impose it on others, they are wrong. (F. F. Bruce, The Colossian Heresy, Part 3 of Colossian Problems, Bibliotheca Sacra, 141, July-September 1984:205) 18. The word "fraud" is defined as the intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right (merriam-webster.com). A fraud presents a substitute. Explain how these false teachings are a "fraud" to the full, complete, and pure gospel message (TRUTH v. ERROR) that was first taught to the Colossians. Think About It: Four harmful teaching emphases of these false teachers are still with us today. The first is higher knowledge (Gnosticism) such as so called scientific, archaeological, or paleontological facts that contradict Scripture, so called revelations that claim to be on a par with Scripture, and teaching that directly contradicts biblical revelation. The second is the observance of laws to win God s love (legalism). Some examples are: salvation by works, teaching that puts Christians under the Mosaic Law, and teaching that says sanctification comes by keeping manmade rules. The third is the belief that beings other than Christ (angels, saints, or ancestors) must mediate between people and God (mysticism) or that certain mystical experiences can improve our relationship with God. The fourth is the 61

68 HEALTHY LIVING practice of abstaining from things to earn merit with God (asceticism). Some examples are: fasting to force God s hand, living in isolation to avoid temptation, and selfmutilation to mortify the flesh. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p ) 19. Staying Healthy: Genuine Christians can be deceived by false teaching, even teaching concerning Christ. Have you recognized in your study of Colossians so far that you have a concept about God, Christ, salvation, the church or the Christian life that is not based on Scripture, but on man-made tradition or philosophy? Write it (them) down. Now, give that to Jesus and ask Him to help you accept the truth of God's Word alone. Think About It: When we make Jesus Christ and the Christian revelation only part of a total religious system or philosophy, we cease to give Him the preeminence. When we strive for spiritual perfection or spiritual fullness by means of formulas, disciplines, or rituals, we go backward instead of forward. Christian believers must beware of mixing their Christian faith with such alluring things as yoga, transcendental meditation, Eastern mysticism, and the like. We must also beware of deeper life teachers who offer a system for victory and fullness that bypasses devotion to Jesus Christ. In all things, He must have the preeminence! (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 49) The treasure we have in Jesus Christ is greater than anything we can substitute for Him. DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 20. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 21. From the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson, make note of anything that you do not understand at this time. 62

69 LESSON SIX Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 22. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 63

70 HEALTHY LIVING 64

71 LESSON SEVEN 7: Living Above Colossians 3:1-11 Scriptural Insight: Knowing that all wisdom is in Christ (2:1-5), Paul urged the Colossian Christians [and us] to continue in Him (2:6-7), not being deceived by vain philosophies (2:8-10) We are not to live under Jewish laws (2:11-17), for that would only rob us of our rewards (2:18-19). We have died with Christ and hence need not submit to legalistic rules (2:20-23). So, we as believers are to seek spiritual values, put off the sins of the old life, and put on the virtues of the new life. This in turn should affect our relationships with other members of our families and society. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 679) DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 2:11-3: As you read 3:1-11, what especially interested you or brought questions to your mind? 2. Focusing on 3:1-4, what ideas are repeated in these verses that connect with what you read in Colossians 2 (give verses)? 3. According to 3:1, where is Christ and what is his role there? See also Ephesians 1: Based on Colossians 3:1-4, what things are true about you in relation to Christ? 5. What is promised in verse 4? 65

72 HEALTHY LIVING Focus on the Meaning: Hidden implies both concealment and safety; both invisibility and security. [The believer] is not glorified, but he is secure and safe in Christ. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 680) 6. Colossians 3:1 says, you have been raised with Christ." Read Colossians 1:13; Romans 6:3-10 and Ephesians 2:4-7. What is the meaning of "raised with Christ?" 7. Because of your position of being raised with Christ, How are you to set your heart and mind? Based on what you learned in Colossians 2, what does Paul mean by earthly things (give verses)? Based on what you learned so far in Colossians 1 and 2, what do you think it means to set your heart and mind on things above (give verses)? See also Romans 8:5. Why is it necessary to set your heart and mind on things above? Focus on the Meaning: from now on the Christian will see everything in the light and against the background of eternity. He will no longer live as if this world was all that mattered; he will see this world against the background of the larger world of eternity He will, for instance, set giving above getting, serving above ruling, forgiving above avenging. The Christian will see things, not as they appear to men, but as they appear to God. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 51) 66

73 LESSON SEVEN 8. Staying Healthy: Setting your heart and mind on things above" doesn t mean that you live with your head in the clouds. It doesn t mean that you live for God and approach life God s way rather than the world s way in the middle of the mess around you. Think of a tough situation you have been facing or expect to face. Now look at that situation as it appears to God. How can you approach that situation God s way rather than the world s way? Find verses to support your answer. DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 3: Focus on 3:5-7. Because of who you are (died with Christ to sin, made alive with Christ, and now with Christ in you, What behaviors (includes thoughts, words, and actions) are you to put to death in your life? From the Greek: Based upon the original Greek words used for these behaviors "Immorality refers to illicit sexual intercourse. "Impurity" is moral impurity. "Passion" means uncontrolled illegitimate desire, like an inward fire that is kindled in the heart. "Evil desire" refers to reaching out for some forbidden thing to satisfy itself. "Greed" is the desire to have more of anything materialistic, including lust, that disregards the rights of others. It is "the arrogant and ruthless assumption that all other persons and things exist for one's own benefit. Every sin is basically selfishness, the worship of self instead of the worship of God, the substitution of self for Christ, in one's affections (cf. Col. 3:1-3). (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 55) What do you think put to death means regarding those behaviors? Why should you put those behaviors to death? From what you ve learned in Colossians so far, where do you get the ability to put those behaviors to death? 67

74 HEALTHY LIVING 10. In Colossians 3:5-6, Paul referred to the wrath of God. God's response to all evil and sin is righteous, holy wrath. We must not project our experience with human anger onto God and assume that "His is the same, only bigger." God's wrath is not a mood or a fit of temper. God's disposition toward sin and evil is as constant and unrelenting as His love and goodness. He hates and rejects evil in a perfect and holy anger. He will never bend or compromise with it. His own nature demands that He judge it through action. Based on Colossians 3:5-6 and Romans 1:18-20, towards what is His wrath directed? Focus on the Meaning: Since God's first concern for His universe is its moral health, that is, its holiness, whatever is contrary to this is necessarily under His eternal displeasure. Wherever the holiness of God confronts unholiness, there is conflict: This conflict arises from the irreconcilable natures of holiness and sin. God's attitude and action in the conflict are His anger. To preserve His creation God must destroy whatever would destroy it. When He arises to put down destruction and save the world from irreparable moral collapse He is said to be angry. Every wrathful judgment of God in the history of the world has been a holy act of preservation. (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, page 106) 11. According to Romans 5:9-10, how are believers affected by the wrath of God? Focus on the Meaning: God s holy wrath is fully satisfied by Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Propitiation (to appease, satisfy) is the term that has been used historically for this. Because God s wrath against all sin is fully satisfied by what Jesus finished on the cross, God is able to extend mercy without compromise with evil. This is truth for you to know and claim. Because you have trusted Christ are now found in Christ, God is no longer angry at your sin ever! So, how does knowing that truth make you feel? 12. Reread Colossians 3:8-11. What other things should you as a believer remove from your life (vv. 8-10)? Scriptural Insight: In the Bible, behavior is often likened to a garment, both bad and good. See Job 29:14. Regarding those listed in v. 8, let s take each one and define them. 68

75 LESSON SEVEN 13. ANGER. Anger is a normal human emotion designed by God to alert us to something wrong so we will take action against it. Look at the dictionary definitions of anger. Is all anger wrong? If not, which definition of anger seems to fit the context of Colossians 3? If we are to reflect God on earth, when is anger appropriate? But, even appropriate anger is a slippery slope. What can easily happen with unresolved anger? 14. RAGE. Define rage. Why is rage something that needs to be put to death? 15. MALICE. Define malice. How can malice be related to anger and rage? 16. SLANDER. Define slander. How is slander related to malice? 17. FILTHY LANGUAGE. The Greek word used here (meaning foul speaking, low and obscene speech ) is elsewhere translated as abusive speech. What do you think qualifies as abusive speech or filthy language? See also Ephesians 4: LIE. Define what it means to lie to one another as used in this context. Would such a command as do not lie include exaggeration or embellishment? If so, under what circumstances? 69

76 HEALTHY LIVING Scriptural Insight: The imperative command against lying is very strong. Paul said to never lie. The reason given (v. 9) applies to all the preceding activities. The old self is the person the Christian was before God united him or her with Christ. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 56) 19. Why is it necessary for the believer to put off such behaviors? Look at all of Colossians 3:1-10 for your answer (give verses). Think About It: Become in experience what you already ARE by God's grace. (Ryrie Study Bible, notes on Colossians 3:1-2) 20. How does being renewed in knowledge in the image of your Creator (v. 10) tie in with Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 3? See also Romans 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 5:17. Focus on the Meaning: Sanctification (made holy) Set apart as God s possession for His exclusive use. Believers are made holy by Christ s death on the cross in their relational status before God. Believers are also being made holy in their thoughts, words, and actions by the work of the Holy Spirit. This is ongoing from the moment of salvation until the Lord comes or the believer dies when our being made holy is complete. 21. Staying Healthy: To put to death the behaviors that do not fit with your life hidden in Christ, you need to be able to recognize them first. Considering what you have studied today in Colossians 3:5-9, do you recognize any of these behaviors in your life? Will you put them to death by choosing to say, NO! to them and asking Jesus to enable you to keep saying, NO? 22. What does Colossians 3:11 say? 23. Based on what you ve learned in Colossians 1:1-3:10, why are all racial, religious, social and sexual distinctions removed in Christ? See also Galatians 3:26-29 and Acts 17:

77 LESSON SEVEN Historical Insight: Jews regarded all others as Gentiles. Greeks and Romans regarded all others as barbarians. Scythians were considered the most barbarous of barbarians wild, savage nomads. (A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament) 24. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Read Ephesians 2: Why was Colossians 3:11 such an astounding concept for men and women of the New Testament world to hear? How important is it to you today? Scriptural Insight: There is no national or racial distinction that determines one s acceptability to God nor is there any religious, cultural, or social distinction. Jesus Christ is essentially all that we need for new birth and growth. He indwells every believer and permeates all the relationships of life. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 56) 25. Staying Healthy: The Bible never talks about races but about tribes and nations. We are told in the Bible that we are all of one blood, one flesh. We all have the same color. Some of us have more of it than others. Racism is an idea put on later by man to divide people. Do you feel that a particular racial, religious, or ethnic group is inferior to you? Are you willing to put this attitude "to death"? DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 26. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. 71

78 HEALTHY LIVING Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 27. From the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson, make note of anything that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 28. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 72

79 LESSON EIGHT 8: Evidence of a Thankful Heart Colossians 3:12-17 DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 3: Reread Colossians 3: Write out verse 12. How are you described at the beginning of verse 12? How does reading that you are dearly loved / beloved make you feel? 2. We learned in the last lesson the Bible often likens behavior to a garment, both bad and good. You were instructed to put off bad behaviors. As God s dearly loved children, with what good behaviors are you to now "clothe yourself (verses 12-14)? [Note: these are also fruit of the Spirit along with Galatians 5:22-23.] Since we are being renewed into the image of Christ (verse 10) who displayed these virtues in His life, let s understand them and look for examples of each in Jesus life. COMPASSION and KINDNESS. 3. Define compassion. Give an example of compassion from Jesus life. 4. Define kindness. Give an example of kindness from Jesus life. 73

80 HEALTHY LIVING 5. How are compassion and kindness similar? different? HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, and PATIENCE. 6. Define humility. Give an example of humility from Jesus life. 7. Define gentleness. Give an example of gentleness from Jesus life. 8. Define patience. Give an example of patience from Jesus life. 9. How are humility and gentleness related? 10. Why would having humility and gentleness help you to have patience? BEAR WITH one another and FORGIVE one another. 11. Define what it means to bear with one another. Look this verse up in several translations to glean what it means. Then, give an example of bearing with one another from Jesus life. 74

81 LESSON EIGHT 12. Define forgiveness. Give an example of forgiving one another from Jesus life. 13. According to Colossians 3:13, what are you to forgive? How are you to forgive? 14. How would having compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience help you to forgive like that? LOVE. 15. The Greek word translated love is agape, meaning unconditional love. What is unconditional love? What is the opposite of unconditional love? Why would unconditional love bind the other 7 virtues (we just covered) in perfect unity? Give an example of unconditional love from Jesus life. Think About It: Grudges have no place in a Christian s life! Your capacity to love is directly tied to your capacity to get how deeply you have been forgiven. Agree or disagree? 16. List the terms in all of Colossians 3:8-14 that are used to indicate that your WILL must be actively involved effecting change. 75

82 HEALTHY LIVING 17. Are you left to your own efforts to clothe yourself with these Christ-like behaviors? Who develops these fine qualities in you as you are willing to cooperate? Review what you have learned in Colossians so far (give verses). See also Galatians 5: Staying Healthy: Of the good qualities listed in vv , choose one that you especially need and tell God you are willing FOR HIM to develop this characteristic of Christ in you. Then, trust Him to do it. DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 3: Focusing on vv , What specific instruction is given in Colossians 3:15? Why? See also Romans 14:19. Focus on the Meaning: NIV Study Bible note says the Greek word translated rule means literally to function like an umpire. When Christians need to make choices, the peace that Christ produces in our hearts should be a determining factor. We should choose what would result in peace between us and God, and between us and one another, if such a course of action lies within God s moral will. (NIV Study Bible, p. 1817; Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 59) 20. Staying Healthy: Letting the peace of God rule in your heart is a choice that you must make. Do you have a relationship with another believer that is NOT at peace? Is it your position that is breaking the peace? How could a firm grasp of Colossians 3:12-14 encourage you to take steps toward establishing peace with this person? Describe a scenario when you did let the peace of Christ act as an umpire in a relationship. 21. What does Paul say in Colossians 3:16? 76

83 LESSON EIGHT 22. What would qualify as the word of Christ? See also Colossians 1:5-7, 23; Luke 4:22, 32; John 14:24 and Galatians 1: Think About It: Christ s words were recorded by Spirit-guided apostles (John 14:26; 16:13; 20:31). The words of the Bible, God s written Words, are to dwell in believers. That is, by study, meditation, and application of the Word, it becomes a permanent abiding part of one s life. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 682) 23. Focusing on verse 16, to dwell means to inhabit so as to make oneself at home. So, what does it mean to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly? Focus on the Meaning: His Word should be so deeply implanted within us as to permeate our whole being so that we make all decisions and plans in its light. He who dwells in a house is the master of the house, not just a passing guest. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 59) 24. The word of Christ is to dwell in you richly so that you can teach and admonish others with wisdom as the opportunity arises. Define teach. Define admonish. What is needed in order to teach or admonish one another in wisdom? Draw your answer from what you ve learned so far in this lesson. 25. Staying Healthy: Teaching In what ways do you prepare yourself to be able to teach the word of Christ to others? How can you improve in your preparation to teach? Admonishing To admonish someone involves risk in a relationship. Do you shy away from admonishing others because of fear of rejection or loss of relationship? How could a firm grasp of Colossians 3:12-14 encourage you to admonish others from the word of Christ? 77

84 HEALTHY LIVING 26. Write Colossians 3:17. What would that look like in your life? Focus on the Meaning: The basic principle is this. We should say all words and practice all deeds in harmony with the revelation of Jesus Christ, namely, under His authority and as His followers. The name comprehends everything revealed and known about the person bearing the name. Moreover, we are to do all with thanksgiving to God. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 61) 27. Reread vv Notice Paul s inclusion of gratitude and being thankful in each verse. Being thankful is so important that Paul has mentioned it 6 times in this short letter (see also 1:12; 2:7; and 4:2). Why do you think Paul continually reminds them (and us) to be thankful? Think About It: An attitude of gratitude contributes to an enjoyment of spiritual tranquility, whereas grumbling makes for inner agitation. Do you agree or disagree? 28. Discuss the connection between singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and having gratitude (literally grace ) in your hearts (i.e., understanding God s grace towards you). Scriptural Insight: It has often been noticed that the Colossian passage is parallel with Ephesians 5: In the latter passage the hymns and songs are the outgrowth of the filling of the Spirit, while in Colossians they are the result of the deep assimilation of the Word of God. In other words, the Word-filled Christian is a Spiritfilled Christian. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 60) 29. Staying Healthy: Are you giving thanks frequently to God for the life that He has given you? If not, why not? Maybe it s time to make a list of all the good things God has given to you or done for you. Thank Jesus for each one of those things. Feel free to let the gratitude in your hearts overflow in worship to Christ with singing or through any other creative expression (there s an extra page at the end of this lesson that you can use for art, prose, poetry, etc.). 78

85 LESSON EIGHT DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 30. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 31. From the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson, make note of anything that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 32. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 79

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87 LESSON NINE 9: Evidence of a Word-Filled Life Colossians 3:18-4:1 We could never cover marriage and family relationships in the time allowed for this one lesson. The focus of the lesson is how an understanding of the word of Christ in Colossians 3:12-17 should direct (act as umpire) in our relationships in 2 specific relationship spheres family and workplace so as to foster peace (Colossians 3:15). The issue for all of chapter 3 is how Christians can live fruitful and useful lives for God in the middle of a messy world follow vv DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 3:12-4:1. 1. What overall heart/mind focus from 3:15-17 is repeated in 3:18-4:1? 2. Paul gives examples of putting into practice the word of Christ from vv specifically in typical households of the time, which included slaves and hired servants. What specific relationships is Paul addressing in vv. 3:18-4:1? Focusing on Family Relationships 3. Paul assumes the husband and wife are exhibiting the characteristics from in their lives. What instructions does Paul give to the Colossians in directing their family relationships (vv ) when they are doing everything in the name of Jesus? To wives To husbands To children To fathers Though today s culture includes households headed by women or men without mates and/or children, the principles of Colossians 3:12-17 that lead to maturity in private home relationships submitting to one another and loving one another in a family still apply. 4. Define the following words using the best definition that fits the context of this passage. See also From the Greek below for more insight. Submit 81

88 HEALTHY LIVING Obey Love Embitter From the Greek: Hypotasso (translated submit ) was a Greek military term meaning to arrange [as in troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader. In non-military use, it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden. Agapao (translated love ) means to love dearly, welcome, be fond of. (The Blue Letter Bible Lexicon) The word translated embitter (NIV) means to provoke or irritate, something parents can do by continual agitation and unreasonable demands. Praise for welldoing rather than constant criticism will, along with loving discipline, help rear children in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 683) 5. Compare submitting and obeying and give an example of each from Jesus life: How are they similar? How are they different? [Note: the admonition for children to obey parents in Colossians 3:20 refers to minors, not adult children.] Jesus submitting to authority Jesus obeying His parent(s) 82

89 LESSON NINE 6. Looking specifically at marriage relationships, read Ephesians 5:22-6:9. As you read, recall and consider the definitions you gleaned above. Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to love their wives. What analogy is given for wives submitting to their husbands and why? 7. Paul says in Colossians 3:18 that wives are to submit as is fitting in the Lord (NIV). Define fitting. What could Paul have meant by that phrase? Scriptural Insight: Submission is an attitude that recognizes the rights of authority. This subjection rests on divinely prescribed authority, not on any inherent inferiority in spirituality, intelligence, worth, or anything else. This is fitting in that it is consistent with what God ordained at the creation of the human race (Gen. 2:18; cf. 1 Tim. 2:13). (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 62) 8. Staying Healthy: Considering your family life and relationships: If you are married: Apply the word of Christ presented in Colossians 3:5-17 to your marriage relationship. What do you need to put off and put on? What can you learn from these verses to help you submit to and encourage your husband s authority and responsibility in the family? [Note: we will cover limits to submission in a later question.] Think About It: I heard someone say that the best marriages are those where the husband and wife take a team approach to life. That requires deciding to be teammates, not just two individuals living together. By taking the team approach to life together, the couple seeks team identification (having the same surname helps with this), team progress, and team success. If you are unmarried: Apply the word of Christ presented in Colossians 3:5-17 to your singleness. What do you need to put off and put on? 83

90 HEALTHY LIVING What can you learn from these verses to help you be content as a single or to help you choose a mate and prepare for marriage? If you are raising children: Apply the word of Christ presented in Colossians 3:5-17 to your parenting. What do you need to put off and put on? How will you submit to the Lord s authority as a parent and nurture obedience to and love for God in your children s hearts? DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 3:22-4:1. Focusing on Work Relationships 9. Let s continue our discussion of submission to authority. Although households in most countries no longer consist of slaves doing the bidding of their masters, there are parts of the world where the slave-master relationship still exists. However, the principle of submission to authority can apply to another place that has an authority structure a workplace. Why is it that submission to authority (family, church, government, workplace) is often seen as a threat? 10. What are the instructions for employees? Verse 22 Verse 23 Verse 24 & What are the instructions for employers (3:25 & 4:1)? 84

91 LESSON NINE Focus on the Meaning: The phrase with all your heart (verse 23, NIV) literally means out of the soul, i.e., genuine and from within, not merely by outward pretense If more Christian employees today served their employers with genuine concern and as though they were serving God, quality and productivity would increase dramatically If employers today manifested this kind of compassionate and impartial care for their employees, certainly their employees motivation to work would radically improve. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 683) 12. What could be the benefit (present and future) of applying Colossians 3:22-4:1 in a workplace environment? Think About It: This view of work transforms a worker s attitudes and performance. Even the most servile work thereby becomes a ministry and an act of worship. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 65) General Relationships 13. What is involved in biblical submission to authority? See 1 Peter 2:21-23; 3: In Colossians 3:20, 22, how do you qualify "in everything? Are there any limits to submission to authority? See also Acts 5: If the other person in the relationship is not doing his/her part, how should you respond based on your understanding of Colossians 3:12-17? 16. Considering what you have learned from Colossians 3:12-17 and other verses in this study, why do you think submission is pleasing to God? 85

92 HEALTHY LIVING Think About It: Submission to the Lord is saying, Lord, I want your will more than I want my own way. Is this your heart attitude? 17. Staying Healthy: Thinking specifically about Colossians 3:19, 23-24, apply these verses to other areas of your life besides a workplace environment. How would following the word of Christ in these verses benefit your children, your volunteer service, and your general witness to an unbelieving world? 18. Deeper Discoveries (optional): In Colossians 3:22-4:1, Paul gives specific instructions in slave/master relationships. Do you believe God approves of slavery? If not, why is it not condemned? Why would obedience to God's commands in Colossians 3:5-17 actually lead to its abolition? Historical Insight: Interestingly throughout history wherever Christians have constituted a significant segment of the population and have followed Paul s directions here, the slave system has died. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p ) DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 19. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 20. From the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson, make note of anything that you do not understand at this time. 86

93 LESSON NINE Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 21. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 87

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95 LESSON TEN 10: Making a Difference Colossians 4:2-18 DAY ONE STUDY Read Colossians 4: Anything in particular interesting to you in this passage? 2. Let s focus on vv Define devote (v. 2, NIV). Remembering the rest of the letter you have already studied, why do you think Paul tells the Colossians to be devoted to prayer, keeping watchful or alert (v. 2)? Focus on the Meaning: In prayer, we call on God to work, and we express our faith in Him The Christian who does not pray is demonstrating independence from God (cf. John 15:5) The accompanying exhortation to keep awake, be on the alert (gregoreo) is drawn from the imagery of guard duty (Nehemiah 7:3; Mark 14:34, 37). (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 68) 3. Read verse 2 again. How do you think an attitude of thankfulness can make a difference in your prayer life? Relate this to what you learned in Colossians 3: Scriptural Insight: The repeated emphasis on thanksgiving makes this epistle one of the most thankful books in the New Testament (cf. 1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15-17; 4:2). (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 68) 89

96 HEALTHY LIVING 4. Staying Healthy: Is there something that you are especially praying for today? How can you have an attitude of thanksgiving? List at least three things for which you can be thankful in your circumstance/situation. 5. For what two things does Paul ask in Colossians 4:3-4? 6. Why is it so important for Paul, and us, to be able to proclaim the gospel clearly? See also Ephesians 6: Staying Healthy: Are you praying daily for an open door in which to share the gospel with someone? If someone asked you what the "gospel" or the "Good News" is, would you be able to tell her? Read the simple Gospel message below that you could use to share with someone about Christ. Has anyone ever explained to you how you can know you re going to heaven? May I? 1. The Bible teaches that God loves all people and wants them to know Him. 2. But people have sinned against God and are separated from God and His love. Draw a chasm. This separation leads only to death and judgment. 3. But there is a solution. Draw bridge. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins (the bridge between humanity and God). 4. Only those who personally receive Jesus Christ into their lives, trusting Him to forgive their sins, can cross this bridge. Everyone must decide individually whether to receive Christ. Is anything keeping you from trusting Christ right now? Would you like to pray now and tell God you will trust His Son as your Savior? (from the Bridge to Life method of sharing the gospel) Now, write how you would say it to someone. 90

97 LESSON TEN 8. How can we be wise in the way we act toward unbelievers (outsiders) as Paul states in verse 5? Draw from the following verses to get your answer. Colossians 3: Thessalonians 4:11-12; 5: Peter 2:13-17 Summary: 9. What do you think Paul means when he says we should make the most of every opportunity in verse 5? Give examples. From the Greek: The Greek word translated "opportunity" (kairos, lit. time) probably implies the opportune time (i.e., the best, most effectual, and most productive occasion), as it does in some other places. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 69) 10. Making the most of every opportunity includes daily conversation with non-christians (v. 6). What advice does Paul give for our conversation? 11. What does it mean to have your conversation be full of grace, in a sense seasoned with salt (verse 6)? Examine what is said in Colossians 3:12-17 and Ephesians 4:29 to derive your answer for the right kind of salty language. 91

98 HEALTHY LIVING Focus on the Meaning: Speech most effectively expresses what is inside the believer. The Christian s speech should mirror the gracious character and conduct of his or her God by demonstrating love, patience, sacrifice, undeserved favor, etc. Salt probably represented both attractiveness, since salt makes food appealing, & wholesomeness, since salt was a preservative that retarded corruption in food one should wisely suit his or her speech to each need. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 70) 12. Know how to answer everyone doesn t mean you must know ALL the answers because no one does except God. So, what could it mean in light of this context (vv. 2-6)? 13. Staying Healthy: Does your speech mirror the gracious character and conduct of your Lord? Ask Jesus to reveal to you any speech that doesn t mirror Him and trust Him to help you replace it with grace-filled speech. Just say, Lord Jesus, I can t do this on my own. But, you can do this in me. I will trust you. Then, watch what He does! DAY TWO STUDY Read Colossians 4: View these names as representing real people with real functions in their world. Beside each name, give Paul's comments about the person and their function in the church / ministry. Follow the cross-references given to see what else is mentioned about them. Add information from online Bible study websites such as Use all this information to draw yourself a word picture about who they were. You will be seeing them in heaven. They may know your name and story so you should know theirs! Tychicus (v. 7; Ephesians 6:21-22) Onesimus (v. 8; Philemon 10-11, 15-16) Aristarchus (v. 10; Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Philemon 23) 92

99 LESSON TEN (John) Mark (v ; Acts 12:25; 13:4-5, 13; 15:37-41; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11; 1 Peter 5:13) Scriptural Insight: John Mark, [who wrote the gospel of Mark], is an encouragement to everyone who has failed in his first attempts to serve God. He did not sit around and sulk. He got back into the ministry and proved himself faithful to the Lord and to the Apostle Paul. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 72) Jesus Justus (v. 11) Epaphras (vv ; Colossians 1:7; Philemon 23) Scriptural Insight: Epaphras holds the unique distinction among all the friends and co-workers of Paul of being the only one whom Paul explicitly commended for his intensive prayer ministry. The passage quoted above [4:12-13] may well be called his diploma of success in this ministry. Epaphras' "concern" for the Christians in the other towns near Colosse, "Laodicea and Hierapolis," suggests the possibility that he evangelized these communities as well. (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 72) Luke (v. 14; Acts 16:10 where he joins Paul; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11; wrote the gospel of Luke and book of Acts) Demas (v. 14; 2 Timothy 4:10) Nympha (v. 15) Archippus (v. 17; Philemon 2) 93

100 HEALTHY LIVING 15. In this passage, we see one of the ways women were very important to the establishment of the early church (assuming Nympha is a woman as some translations say). See also Romans 16:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 16:19. What do you think Nympha's (and Priscilla s) ministry involved for her? 16. Staying Healthy: Your home is one of your most valuable assets for ministry. Is your home used in any way for the Lord? If not, why not? What is holding you back? 17. How did Paul conclude this beautiful letter? Scriptural Insight: Paul normally used a secretary to write his letters, and then added a personal word at the end in his own handwriting to authenticate his authorship (cf. Rom. 16:22; Gal. 6:11). (Constable s Notes on Colossians, p. 74) What happened to the Colossian church? An earthquake destroyed Colosse shortly after this letter was written. Tacitus recorded that Laodicea was also destroyed in the quake, but was apparently later rebuilt. Colosse lost its importance. Laodicea became the greater city. In Revelation, Jesus wrote a letter to Laodicea, but Colosse was not mentioned because by the mid 90s, Colosse in large part no longer existed. A few people were said to have formed a small village from the ruins of Colosse. The village was totally abandoned in the 8th century. In the 12th century, the Turks destroyed whatever was left of Colosse. Today, Colosse is uninhabited ruins. Motorist guides to Turkey point out Laodicea's ruins but do not even mention Colosse. Christianity survived in the Lycus Valley until 1923 when the Treaty of Lausanne, ending the Greco- Turkish war, sent Turkish Christians to Greece and Greek Muslims to Turkey. 94

101 LESSON TEN DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 18. Review the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson. List the truths about God and His relationship to us that we can KNOW. Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 19. From the Colossians passage we studied in this lesson, make note of anything that you do not understand at this time. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 20. Evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Does anything come to mind that fits with today s lesson? Discern truth from error using the following process. Step #1: Define the terms and issues involved. Step #2: Ask questions and support your answers with Scripture, looking for truth you can know and what you can t know. Step #3: Think of a graceful response to someone holding to that type of thinking. Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 95

102 HEALTHY LIVING 96

103 LESSON ELEVEN 11: Forgiveness and Reconciliation Philemon 1-25 DAY ONE STUDY Read the letter to Philemon in one sitting. A copy is provided before Lesson What words or phrases interested you as you read this letter? 2. To whom is the letter addressed? 3. Why do you think Paul addressed this letter to the church, not just to Philemon? 4. What is Onesimus relationship to Philemon? Historical Insight: To help you get the big picture Onesimus apparently stole some money and ran away from Philemon. He ended up in jail with Paul in Rome. He became a Christian, and now Paul is sending him back to Philemon to restore the relationship. The two men now share the relationship as brothers in Christ as well as master/slave. 5. How does Paul feel about these two men? Give verses to support your answers. Philemon Onesimus 97

104 HEALTHY LIVING 6. Review Colossians 4:9. What is said about Onesimus? What is not said about Onesimus? Why do you think Paul said what he did about Onesimus in his letter to the Colossians? 7. What does Paul ask Philemon to do regarding Onesimus? 8. Put yourself in Philemon s shoes. What would be his biggest challenges to accepting Onesimus as an equal in Christ and worshiping alongside him in church? 9. Now, put yourself in Onesimus shoes. What be his biggest challenges in going back to Philemon and putting himself under Philemon s authority again? 10. Staying Healthy: Have you been in conflict with someone in your church? Regardless of any feelings of guilt or of being wronged, what challenges did you face (do you face) in loving that person as your sister (brother) in Christ and worshiping alongside them in church? 98

105 LESSON ELEVEN DAY TWO STUDY Read Philemon If Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven, His Word should make a difference in our lives in very tough situations. This is a tough situation. The book of Philemon is a practical application of the teachings Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossian church, especially Colossians chapter 3. How should both Philemon and Onesimus apply the teaching Paul gives to the Colossians? Support your answer with verses from Colossians 3:5-4:1. Philemon Onesimus 12. Why should they be obedient to God's teaching through Paul? Think About It: Freedom of slaves, like all freedom, must come from the heart of Christ inspired men. Under this compulsion, slavery must ultimately wilt and die. That it took so long for it to do so, that slavery was practiced by many Christians in America until the Civil War ended it, that it is still, in one form or another, in the world today these humbling facts show the tenacity of socially entrenched sin and the failure of Christendom to deal with it. While all ethical behavior for Christians should arise out of love, rather than regulation or constraint, yet it takes fully committed disciples to put it into practice. (Constables Notes on Philemon, p. 15) 13. Read Philemon 11. The name Onesimus means "profitable" or "useful." Paul makes use of this in his attempt to persuade Philemon (verse 11). What do you think Paul means? From the Greek: The name Philemon means affectionate or one who is kind. If the slave was expected to live up to his name, then what about the master? (Constables Notes on Philemon, p. 11) 99

106 HEALTHY LIVING 14. In summary, what is Paul really asking of Philemon in this letter regarding Onesimus? Historical Insight: What happened as a result of this letter? Did Philemon forgive Onesimus? We have no direct record of his response to this letter. However, the fact that Philemon preserved this epistle and allowed it to circulate among the churches, strongly suggests that he did behave as Paul had requested. (Constable s Notes on Philemon, p. 16) By 110 AD, the bishop of Ephesus was named Onesimus. From some correspondence preserved during this time period, many scholars believe this is the same Onesimus who is the subject of Paul s letter to Philemon. 15. What do you learn from this small but powerful letter about the cost of forgiveness and reconciliation? 16. Staying Healthy: In Philemon, Paul is proactively serving as a mediator between Philemon and Onesimus. Define mediator and mediation. Have you been in a place where you needed mediation between yourself and another person? Maybe you are in that place now. What can you do (based on what you ve learned in Colossians and Philemon) to bring about reconciliation? Do you need to proactively serve as mediator between 2 people in conflict? What have you learned from Paul s example that you can use to hopefully bring about reconciliation? 100

107 LESSON ELEVEN DAY THREE STUDY: TRUTH THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY LIVING Dwell in Truth You Can Know 17. What 3 truths will you take away from this study of Colossians and Philemon? Humbly Accept the I Don t Know or Understand 18. Remember to accept the things you don t know or understand and patiently wait for the Lord to help you know what He wants you to know. Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God s Word 19. Remember to evaluate what you read, see or hear in light of the TRUTH you have learned books, social media, billboards things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. Always discern truth from error using the Bible. LIVE IN THIS TRUTH EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE: Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! 101

108 HEALTHY LIVING 102

109 SOURCES Sources 1. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament 2. Dr. Tom Constable s Notes on Colossians 3. Kay Arthur, Lord, Is It Warfare? 4. NIV Study Bible 5. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (New Testament), Walvoord and Zuck 6. The Ryrie Study Bible 7. Vickie Kraft quote from her Colossians teaching 8. The Woman s Study Bible 9. Dr. Tom Constable s Notes on Philemon 103

110 Graceful Beginnings Series FOR NEW-TO-THE-BIBLE CHRISTIANS Designed for anyone new to the Bible. First steps for new Christians. Basic lessons introducing truths about God. Simple terms that are easily understood. Where you can start studying the Bible for yourself. A Fresh Start The first book in the series, laying a good foundation of truth for you to grasp and apply to your life. Painting the Portrait of Jesus Study the I Am statements of Jesus from the gospel of John that reveal who Jesus is and why you can trust Him. The God You Can Know Study the wonderful attributes of God so you can know Him as your loving Father. Grace Overflowing An overview of Paul s letters and how Christ is presented in each one as the answer to your every need. For more information about Graceful Beginnings books, including new releases, visit

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